3.5 starsI have to admit I'm kind of disappointed in this one. Mostly because I loved Bailee's story and this was just ok.Moving along we now follow Sarah and Sam on their journey...The Bad News(For me!)Were the things I didn't like:SarahSarah annoyed me to no end. I can't even begin to count how many times she said I'M FRAGILE. For real! She's constantly trying to find things to dislike about Sam, so she can keep him at arm's length. And then her transformation into a tough girl...Really? She was my biggest problem in the book.Here's something I didn't like:“My shortcomings seem a far lesser problem in this marriage than yours, if you don’t mind me saying.”That's when my dislike started. The Superman EffectI think Sam was shot about 5 times in space of two weeks here. He just gets drunk, she tends to him and voila! He walks off like nothing's happened the next day. Surgeons have better watch out! Once everyone knows it takes so little to heal, they'll be buying Jack D. for insta-cure in no time.The Angel SyndromeThe idolization of Sarah was very evident here. Sam constantly thought of her as an angel, as perfect. He's even told, repeatedly, he doesn't deserves her. He eventually acknowledges that as true. The Good News SamEven though he was a jerk at times, he grew on me. He's not as good as Carter, just as Sarah is nowhere near Bailee, but he's a great hero. An (in)famous bounty hunter, he is despised wherever he goes. Now he wants an angel to save him. I just wish we were told more about his past and his reasons for becoming a bounty hunter. He also has sweet moments.“Then let me stay blind, Sarah.” He pulled her to him. “You are the closest I’ll probably get to heaven.”The Theorem of QuirkinessThis book still had great lines and moments of humor. Just less than in book 1. "She was either under the bed or folded into one of the dresser drawers. He found little comfort in discovering his new bride might be insane as well as armed. But bad luck had been running a wide streak through his life lately, so he did not bother to be surprised by the possibility.""Granny always told her never to marry a man unless you love him something fierce and can’t help yourself, ‘cause men are like apples, they don’t do nothing but rot once you take them home."“I guess you and I are just meant to marry criminals. Sarah confessed to murdering Zeb, and my girl dreams of being the highest-paid hooker in Texas.”And even this, because he finally calls her on it...“Don’t drop me ... I’m fragile. I’ll die!” “No, you won’t. I promise. You’re about as fragile as I am lucky.”LOLI also like the style of writing, it makes the book easy, and yes, enjoyable to red, even when some things bother you.Just a Confusing FactorFirst, I remember reading in book 1, it was said Sam went to fetch a fancy lawyer. It didn't make sense in this storyline.Which is pretty minor, but I simply noticed it here.Also I had a bit of a problem with the suspense plot. It seemed kind of disconnected and Frank never felt like a natural part of the story. I guess he was meant to illustrate Sam's kindness, but it was odd. Overall, I liked it, but I preferred Texan's Wager and am now moving on to Lacy's story
Sarah's story. Sam Gatlin, a famous bounty hunter, was the one whose name Sarah drew out from the lottery hat. They left Cedar Point, but his plans to take her somewhere nice were ruined when someone stabbed him. So they had to take a detour. "If he’s alive when you get there, he’s got a chance. If he’s dead, bury him and don’t tell a soul, not even me.”“But why?”Denver smiled. “ ‘Cause legends aren’t suppose to die.”At first he was intimidating and she doesn't trust him. Not surprising the way she grew up. You see, Sarah was left as a baby and that seemed to be the sign what kind of life she would have. She learned very young not to expect anything from anyone. Well, nothing except that they would leave her. It is heartbreaking how little she expects. “I may have been married before, but it was nothing like this.”“You mean your husband wasn’t stabbed and shot at or offered you the ground for a bed?”“No, not that so much.” She stared up. When she finally answered, he could barely hear her words.“My first husband never asked me if I was cold.” I love how she slowly learned to trust him. Each new step toward their destination showed her a new side of him and he learned a lot about his wife. They do reach his land near the end of the book, but the journey there was a journey in more ways than one. And they got there together. “She was, however, no good for his image as a tough man. It was hard to convince anyone to fear him with a butterfly landing on him every few minutes.” I won't compare this book to the first because the characters are completely different, though all of them are wonderfully written. Sarah is more naive than Bailee even if she was the one who had been married and had a baby. Often the interaction between Sarah and Sam brought a great deal of humour to the story. The way she learns about Sam and what couples are about is beautiful and funny at the same time.
What do You think about When A Texan Gambles (2003)?
This should be a Western Beauty & The Beast, Angel with the Scary Gunfighter in the 'wife lottery' series & mixed with 'nursing to health' theme...Very intriguing from the beginning...full of action, wonderful character and perfect couple! I thought Sarah is a bit weak, frail & fragile as she keeps saying it...but she is face with a different circumstances that has to made her tough & strong...its really fun to read this book!! Hero also alpha & wonderful...Bravo Jodi Thomas!! I had a peek for the 3rd in this series!! and I thought that will be the weakest, uninteresting plot for Lacy...but I guess I'm wrong!! It's most interesting from the three...the Hero is so cold...oh...
—Lucie "a heart so wild"
★★★★ ½ stars. This is the second book I’ve read by Jodi Thomas and I loved it! If you’ve read the back-of-the-book-synopsis, you know this is also the second book in the Wife Lottery series; Sam has previously paid Sarah’s fine to get her out of a Texas jail cell only to whisk her off with nary a word. It opens with the Gatlins on their rainy wedding night. Oh, and Sarah, confessed murderer, has taken one of his guns and hidden from him under the shabby hotel bed. As a bounty hunter, Sam has suffered being an outcast from society. Still suffers. When he leaves her to go to the saloon, he is stabbed. (On a return visit to town he is shot.) You can see why Sarah wonders who she has married.Sarah has been filled with a want for love all her life. First as an orphan left on an abusive woman’s doorstep, then raised from the age of six by an impoverished grandmotherly woman who only showed her love by giving her what little there was left to eat. And then married to…well, I don’t want to ruin the story, but (view spoiler)[her first husband was still grieving for his wife and apologized to Sarah after every hurried copulation; and I don’t think it was from the speed of the act. (hide spoiler)]
—Lisa Kay
I really enjoy reading about a strong hero finally finding his soul mate. The first book in the Wife Lottery series is still my favorite, but I liked the heroine in this one much better. Sarah was strong and stubborn, despite her fears of intimacy and abandonment. The author took time building the relationship between the couple and we "see" them fall in love. I liked Sarah's dedication and commitment to love and care for her husband, even though she did not know him, and equally respected Sam for agreeing not to sleep with her until she was ready. It was a cozy read. My only complaint was about the ending. Way to abrupt. I was flipping pages and saying, "Where's the epilogue?" I suspect there was more to Sarah's (view spoiler)[nausea (hide spoiler)]
—Becky ♡The Bookworm♡
