In the first novel of a brand-new Texas trilogy, award–winning USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas takes her “exquisite and often lyrical” writing (Inside Romance) to passionate new heights as an emotionally wounded man and woman discover the true nature of love and marriage...

Thrown off a wagon train with two other women and trying to avoid jail for a murder they committed, Bailee Moore agrees to enter a “Wife Lottery”—a ploy concocted by the Cedar Point sheriff to secure wives for the men in the small Texas town. For the sensible Bailee, however, marrying Carter McKoy is like exchanging one life sentence for another—especially since her new husband hasn’t even seen fit to utter a single word in her presence. But still, she can’t help thinking that something about this strong, silent farmer could be the key to leaving her troubled past behind…and making a worthy wager with her heart.

Bad luck has been biting at Allie Daniel's heels all her life, so when she inherits a caf in a small Texas lake community she's sure there's a catch. But Allie decides to move and brings her grandmother along, since the caf gives Nana a chance to do what she loves best-cook. As Allie settles in, she soon discovers that she's not alone anymore-and that sometimes, the only cure for bad luck is gaining the courage to love."

Teagen McMurray would ride to hell and back to protect his land. He?d certainly never felt that way about a woman. Not, at least, until Jessie Barton showed up with her three little girls, desperate for a place to stay. Suddenly he found himself proposing marriage, telling himself it was only to protect her and her children.

A true story of Multiple Personality Disorder and recovery.... This autobiography is the inspiring true story of recovery from severe childhood abuse. When Jody Thomas is diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder (also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder) at age 33, she remembers nothing about the childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse she endured. On the difficult road to recovery, Jody will now have to experience all the horrible memories her alters have protected her from remembering her entire adult life. MPD/DID is the defense mechanism Jody's mind developed which allowed her to surviving extreme childhood abuse, and which made her recovery possible later in life. Jody's healing process explores the extreme defenses we are capable of developing to survive, and how, later, these same defenses begin to work against us. Her heart-warming autobiography explores complex issues regarding the damage that can be done to a child's self-perception and how the adult that child develops into navigates the outside world. Therapy and treatment while recovering from abuse... Competent psychotherapy has helped many people heal from trauma. Jody's account offers unique insight into the therapeutic process from the patient's perspective. Her ability to articulate the methods used is rare. Rarer still is her unique understanding of what lay at the heart of healing the emotional self and the "inner child." A heart-felt, inspiring book... Jody's struggle affects not only her, but her family, including her young son and husband. Readers will follow Jody on an emotional journey to recovery, share her struggle her triumphs as her many tears finally lead to joy. Why, Mommy, Why? is a compelling read for both the general public and professionals in the psychology field, offering a patient's perspective on dissociative disorders and the integration process of alter personalities. Art Therapy is one of the methodologies used during treatment, and the original sketches made by Jody are included in the book, which offer even more visual insight into the therapeutic process.

Anna Meyer offers one hundred dollars to the Texas cattleman who can help her forge a frontier homestead. Chance Wyatt agrees to settle down and build a home with a lovely stranger. The boy in him never considered the possibility of love. But the man in him can't deny the passion that Anna brings out in him. They vowed to live together for only a year, but as the challenges of the savage land bring them closer together, neither can resist the aching desire that inflames their hearts-and touches their souls.

Reporter Pepper Malone moved to Bailey, Texas, after a news story nearly got her killed. Now she wants to be left alone to do her job in relative peace and quiet. But when the newspaper's staff is targeted by a madman with a grudge against the media, Pepper is drawn back into the public eye?and into the arms of the paper's handsome owner.