When three woman appear at the Sheriff’s office confessing to the murder of a man that can’t be found, what is a sheriff to do? So he raffles them off to any man who can pay the fine with the understanding that the man will marry them.  The Texan’s Wager by Jodi Thomas is the first in the The Wife Lottery series and tells the story of Bailee, sent off by her father to cross the plains and never return, Bailee is the practical one and finds herself married to Carter McKoy, a stranger.

Carter doesn’t like strangers and surprises himself when he enters his name for the wife lottery. When he takes Bailee home he is surprised at how well she fills the silence of his life but he finds it hard to say anything to her.  Bailee invites strangers into the house, causing Carter to worry about sharing everything with her. But when Carter is needed to communicate with the small child who is the only witness still alive from a train robbery, Carter and Bailee will need to pull together to combat the danger that threatens their very lives.

I love The Wife Lottery series but especially Bailee’s story. Bailee’s practicality and willingness to do what needs to be done is great but underneath she hides a vulnerability and a desire to be wanted forever.  Carter’s character breaks my heart and just makes me want to give him a big hug.  Carter, having almost starved as a child, rations his food like he will never have enough and the scene where she serves his entire ration of bread to a guest and Carter almost cries as he watches the bread disappear is incredible in its ability to make you feel all Carter’s feelings.  Jodi’s characters are sympathetic and entertaining.  The three woman are all so different, Bailee the practical one, Lacy the woman-child who speaks her mind and Sarah, the broken angel.  There is also a fourth book that is the story of Two-bits, the child who helps the three out of their danger and her Ranger, Dalton. I highley recommend the entire series.

Jodi Thomas

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Title: The Texan’s Wager

Author: Jodi Thomas

Format: Paperback

Page Nos.: 309

ISBN: 0-515-13400-7

Publisher: Jove Historical Romance

Release Date: November 2002

Reviewer: Jessica