Saturday, May 30, 2009

ReRead Challenge for May

Nath's ReRead Challenge for May


I’ve been delighted this past little while to discover more readers discovering Jodi Thomas. I’ve been reading and enjoying her books for years now. I think I must have loaned out the book I was planning on reading or else it’s in the ‘pile’ so when I was going through the library’ (and may I take this opportunity to say I’m dying to see what Nath thinks of it) I came across my older Jodi Thomas books and pulled out my favourite one.



The Tender Texan by Jodi Thomas

Published: 1991


Why this one: It called out the loudest


Steam Level: it starts out cool, but builds to a very warm boil


Synopsis:

A Shocking Proposition
Bold and beautiful, Anna Meyer dared to walk into a campsite full of Texas cattlemen . . . and offer one hundred dollars to the man who'd help her forge a frontier homestead.

A Reckless Agreement

On the brink of manhood, Chance Wyatt agreed to settle down and build a home with the lovely stranger. The boy in him never considered the possibility of love. But the man in him could not deny the passion . . .

They vowed to live together for one year only. But as the challenges of the savage land drew them closer together, neither could resist an aching desire that enflamed their hearts, touched their souls . . . and broke all the rules


My Thoughts: I like this book. I mean I really, really like it. A lot. It’s a great representative of why I love the Western genre. I like it.

Chance Wyatt is a dream of a hero. He’s the strong and silent type that is there for the heroine at all times. And even more intriguing, he is younger than Anna – and one of those delicious virgin heroes. I love a good Alpha hero, but as times is nice to read about a great Beta hero and Chance is one of the best ones I’ve read.

Anna, on the other hand is one of the prickliest heroines I’ve read. Don’t get me wrong, I really loved her character, but because of her prickliness, an Alpha hero never would have worked for her. She needs someone calm and patient and gentle with her. It’s not that Chance doesn’t have his moments and stands up to her when he needs to, but at times she even tried my patience a bit. She is a young, pregnant widow who has been horribly abused by her late husband and is afraid to get close to a man again, though she needs one to help her carve out a home for herself in the west.

There is not a great deal of external conflict in this book, though there is some as they deal with the harshness of the land and the threat of attack by the Comanche who are unhappy with their land being overtaken, though they are never really attacked. Rather it’s the story of a damaged, lonely young woman slowly being healed by love by an equally lonely young man.

I think this is probably the third or fourth time I’ve read this book over the years and after reading it again, I know it won’t be the last time either. I really, really love this book. If you’ve enjoyed Jodi Thomas, I really urge you to look for this one, it will be well worth the time.

Chance gets a 5, Anna gets a 4 so the final grade: 4.5 out of 5

13 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Kristie!

Great review!

You always read the best books!

This one definitely sounds like a keeper!

Dottie :)

AnimeJune said...

Wow - this sounds like a fantastic book. Here's hoping I can find it in a used book store or the publishers decide to re-issue it!

Jill D. said...

Wow Kristie, this sounds really good. Can you believe that I haven't ever read Jodi Thomas? I have got to remedy that! I just love books where the characters have a lot of growing to do. Thanks for the recommendation!

Stacy~ said...

I've never read a Jodi Thomas book, but guess what, Miss Kristie? I'm adding this one to my list. This sounds too good to pass up.

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Hey Kristie.. head over to my place to pick up some awards I have for you!! Hope you had a great weekend!

nath said...

LOL, Kristie... What I would think of what? The book or the library?

Can I borrow this one while I'm over there? Unless of course we find a used copy :) by the way, how older is Anna?

Lately, I've really been into beta heroes :)

Great review! :)

Tracy said...

Kristie this book sounds really, really good. I'm going to have to look this one up at the library. Thanks for the heads up! Great review!

Tracy said...

Darnit - they don't have it in all of the LA county library system! Ack - must buy it. :)

Leslie said...

This is the book I've been trying so hard to remember. I loved the story but couldn't remember the author. For some reason I thought it was Robin Lee Hatcher...

Thanks for jogging my memory Kristie! Great review. :)

Kristie (J) said...

Leslie: Bonus!! I'm glad I helped. There's nothing worse than having a book on your mind and not being able to remember the title or the author.

Tracy: Hopefully you can find it in a UBS 'cause it really is worth tracking down. I've read a number of her books but this is my favourite.

Nath: I was thinking the library :) And yep - you can borrow this one. Anna is only a year or two older than Chance though it never states exactly how much older. And he's a wonderful Beta hero

Cecile: Awww - thank! I'll be over shortly.

Stacy: It's definitely a great book to start with! I hope you like it as much as I did.

Jill: Well - she writes Westerns mainly and unless you are a big reader of Westerns, she's easy to miss.

Monroe: And a big thank you to to you too :-)

AnimeJune: I should keep an eye for it around here too. I haven't been to many UBS's lately, but I imagine when I have guests I will be.

Dottie: It's a nice feel when there is a book you have really enjoyed in the past lives up to the fond memories you have of it the way this one did.

Taja said...

I really need to read my first book by Jodi Thomas! :)

orannia said...

Ohhh, Jodi Thomas :) I've read a few of her Texan books (and loved them...although my mind has gone completely blank on my favourite!) but I haven't read this one! *makes a note of the title*

And apologies for being AWOL the last few days!

Tracy said...

Kristie - it looks like the UBS is the place I'll HAVE to find it unless I want to pay $10.00 for it used from Amazon....apparently the only place that I can get it.