Review and Giveaway: Betting the Rainbow

Betting the Rainbow (Harmony - Book 7) by Jodi Thomas

Publication Date: 04/01/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425268403
ISBN-13: 978-0425268407

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Books)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Jodi Thomas on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Harmony

1. Welcome to Harmony
2. Somewhere Along the Way
3. The Comforts of Home
4. Just Down the Road
5. Chance of a Lifetime
6. Can't Stop Believing
7. Betting the Rainbow

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from, Betting the Rainbow, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

~"Thomas knocks it out of the park again" --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas returns to the town of Harmony, Texas, where life has a way of making better plans than anyone ever imagined… 

Sisters Abby and Dusti Delaney have spent their entire lives on Rainbow Lane, but they dream of something bigger. So when a poker tournament comes to town, Dusti is determined to win enough money to leave. Enlisting expert Kieron O’Brian to teach her the game, sparks begin to fly as they play their hands. But Kieron refuses to stand in the way of her dream, even if it means losing her forever...

After a year of traveling, Ronny Logan is settling into a home on Rainbow Lane, but that’s all the settling she’ll be doing. Ronny refuses to fall for anyone, regardless of the chemistry she has with her neighbor Austin Hawk. Yet something undeniable begins to grow between the two loners—if only they can let their barriers fall and open their hearts...

Thoughts:

Jodi Thomas takes readers back to her beloved town of Harmony, Texas in her latest book in the Harmony series, Betting the Rainbow. Thomas doesn't give readers just one couple or romance to focus on, but three in this offering. This book ties up a lot of loose ends in the series, while continuing to draw in new readers with it's small town charm and warm writing style. Thomas has a way with realistic characters in realistic situations and readers of contemporary romance can't get enough. Another great book by this well respected voice in the genre.

What I liked:

Jodi Thomas' Harmony series is all about love in a small town. Thomas draws readers in with an idyllic Texas setting and a cast of characters that will pull at the heart strings. Throughout the series her characters have been through a lot and though Betting the Rainbow can be read as a stand alone, it goes a long way toward wrapping up some story lines that are near and dear to the hearts of her fans. The thing that continues to draw most readers to this series is the heart felt writing style of Thomas. She knows how to wring the emotion out of her readers and what they need to read get that warm fuzzy feeling that some contemporary romances have. I just love this series.

There are essentially three different story lines combining in this book. Fans who followed the series faithfully will love the update on Reagan and Noah, one of the series most beloved couples. Noah may be coming home, but a lot of things have changed including Reagan. I loved this part of the book and looked forward to where Thomas would take these characters. I thought I knew the direction, but a mid-book curve ball really threw me. 

Dusti wants nothing more than follow her dreams with her sister Abby at her side. She thinks she knows how to do it when a high stakes poker tournament comes to town. With a help of Scotsman she could have it in the bag. But she soon begins to see that what she wants most might be right there in Harmony after all. This was a great storyline. A girl who just wants to get out of town, finally realizes she has all she wants right here. I know about that from experience, so this part of the book really hit home with me.

Ronny has been traveling for a year after the death of her love, Marty. Now she is returning to Harmony, but she isn't ready to face the world. Living quietly on the outskirts of life she finds someone she never expected to find. Someone just as damaged and hurt as she is and in helping him, she never imagines that she will be ultimately helping herself. I really enjoyed all of the healing that went on with these two characters. Austin was a dream and I thought they were perfect for each other.

What I didn't like:

I liked it all. Thomas seems to fill her books with love and you can't argue about that.

Bottom Line:

This really was one of my favorites of the series so far. It had some much genuine emotion. I felt happy and sad and joyful and full of angst and so many other things as I read it. Thomas never disappoints. She is truly a very gifted author and her books have been a great joy and comfort to numerous readers along the way. Can't wait for the next one.

Betting the Rainbow is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today's bestselling author Jodi Thomas has published over 30 books in both the historical romance and contemporary genres, the majority of which are set in her home state of Texas. Publishers Weekly calls her novels "Distinctive...Memorable," and that in her stories "[tension] rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes." In 2006, Romance Writers of America (RITA) inducted Thomas into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA for THE TEXAN'S REWARD. She also received the National Readers' Choice Award in 2009 for TWISTED CREEK (2008) and TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN (2008). While continuing to work as a novelist, Thomas also functions as Writer in Residence at the West Texas A&M University campus, where she inspires students and alumni in their own writing pursuits.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Betting the Rainbow by Jodi Thomas.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 30th.

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