Really enjoyed this convenient marriage story. Lots of believable emotions. Lots of different storylines. Some real sad stuff and some beautiful romance. I might have to look up the rest of the series. ( )

Every time author Jodi Thomas takes me to Harmony, TX, she shows me something new. Ms. Thomas is a superb storyteller, and my admiration of her grows with each book. The sixth book in the "Harmony Series" is "Can't Stop Believing", and it will make a believer out of you. Cord McDowell was imprisoned at age eighteen for a crime of which he was innocent. A decade later, having been free for several years, Cord works as a mechanic to keep from losing his family farm. Both of his parents died while he was in prison, and by the time he made it home, their savings had vanished. His time in prison had hardened his heart, and the only thing he really cared about was keeping his homeplace, which bordered the land of his rich neighbors, the Britains. An age-old boundary feud still simmered between the two families. Cord is stunned when his wild-woman neighbor, the beautiful and much-married Nevada Britain, makes him an offer he can't refuse. She proposes a marriage of convenience for eight months in order to pool their land and resources, plant a crop and sell a herd of cattle. In exchange, Cord will be given clear title to three hundred acres of the border land, as well as other financial incentives. Nevada expects Cord to live in her home for the duration of the marriage, and he expects her to sleep in the same bed with him as long as they are married. When Cord presses Nevada for further explanations about her impulsive, intriguing offer, she admits that one of her former husbands is bothering her, and she hopes he will be deterred by her marriage to Cord. A relationship that starts as a business deal becomes much more complex when hearts and hopes and mutual attraction are added to the mix. Two people who thought they knew what life held in store are surprised and enriched by an unexpected emotional connection. The town of Harmony and its history, the wonderful secondary characters, and the humor and heartache, all add to the incredible appeal of this story line. If you've ever thought you'd lost it all, and then somehow, you found a second chance and held on for dear life, then you will absolutely love "Can't Stop Believing". Harmony, I hope to visit you again--very soon.

Book Copy Gratis Berkley Books ( )

Now THIS was a proper visit to Harmony !!
I have read the entire series, and after the last book left me a bit 'underwhelmed" , I wasn't sure if I should bother reading another in the series, but Jodi Thomas didn't loose any of her magic.
This book has featured my new favorite male character ever- Cord - I have a feeling the local prisons will have single ladies flocking at the doors in hopes of finding a man like him. (not that I would recommend that)
I wish , I wish, I wish, that the next harmony book that Ms Thomas will not focus on giving us NEW people to meet, but revisit the old ones, the ones that were left hanging out there... Like Ronny was (and that was a shame) the first time Ronny and Marty were presented it was one of the most lovely times I watched a couple grow together and as individuals. I was engrossed in every word, and then the way it ended I could feel how heavy Ronny's heart was as mine was too. Skipping a book then coming back to them is a bit of a cheat to any new readers and I remember how much I loved the story but at the same time it would have been nicer to even be it's own seperate book as the love story between them was SO incredible.
Thank-You Ms. Thomas, You gave me joy once again. I think anyone who loves Historical Fiction should read this series beginning to end. It is a keeper! ( )

If some books can be judged by the numbers of tissues readers use to read them, this would be a multi-box story. There’s more poignant, bittersweet, thoughtful commentary on life and death here than in any other romance I’ve read in quite some time.

When he was a teen, Cord McDowell reacted while drunk and spent the next six years of his life paying for assaulting a peace officer. For the past three years out of prison, he’s worked as a mechanic in Harmony, Texas, and has run his family’s farm, having lost his parents while he was incarcerated.

His closest neighbor, wild, crazy Nevada Britain, whose ranch borders his farm, has just divorced husband number three, abusive Bryce Galloway. Because of her family’s wealth and her brothers’ wild ways, Nevada has been scorned by most of the people in town almost as much as Cord, who’s rumored to be dangerous.

When she approaches Cord asking for a favor, he’s at first reluctant to hear her out, but when he learns she’s willing to deed him three hundred acres adjacent to his farm if he will marry her for eight months while he lives and works on the ranch, he has only one counter provision: she must sleep in his bed every night.

Only a writer as talented as Jodi Thomas could make a match like Cord and Nevada’s not only work but make it believable enough that readers will root for them.

Read the rest of my review at AAR: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=9551 ( )