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273rd out of 808 books
—
865 voters
Jenna's Cowboy (The Callahans of Texas #1)
Jenna Callahan has a young son and rewarding work on her father's ranch. She's content. But she never expected to see Nate Langley back in town - the first guy she noticed, the one her father sent away all those years ago. And she never thought the attraction they felt would be as strong as ever.
Jenna's cowboy has some healing of his own to do, though, after two tours of d
...morePaperback, 330 pages
Published
January 1st 2010
by Fleming H. Revell Company
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I read the Kindle edition of this book, which is the first in a series about the Callahan family of Texas. Jenna Callahan Colby is surrounded by friends and family in her little Texas town. Having been married and divorced from a Dallas Cowboy (the football kind), she doesn’t know if she’ll ever fall in love again.
Then Nate Langley shows up. Nate was the town’s hero, both on the football field and on the battlefield. He returns from a tour of duty in Iraq, looking for a fresh start. Jenna and Na...more
Then Nate Langley shows up. Nate was the town’s hero, both on the football field and on the battlefield. He returns from a tour of duty in Iraq, looking for a fresh start. Jenna and Na...more
this is a simple straightforward love story, that for me started out strong, with characters that I immediately enjoyed reading about.
Towards the end, though the the story got bogged down. I'm not even sure what it was about the story that made it feel that way.
I felt as though the religious aspect of it was forced, thrown in at various times as though it was a prerequisite. That the author gave herself a goal to have so many references about God ,prayer, and religion in her book.
I greatly en...more
Towards the end, though the the story got bogged down. I'm not even sure what it was about the story that made it feel that way.
I felt as though the religious aspect of it was forced, thrown in at various times as though it was a prerequisite. That the author gave herself a goal to have so many references about God ,prayer, and religion in her book.
I greatly en...more
Jenna Callahan Colby is back home living on the family ranch after her messy divorce. She has a 2 year old named Zach and is trying to put her life back together again. She has had a thing for a young handsome cowboy named Nate Langley since high school, but they never got together because Nate was warned by Jenna's dad to stay away from her. It is many years later and Nate has returned to town as a war hero. He and Jenna realize that they still have those same old feelngs for each other.
Nate su...more
Nate su...more
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book. I assumed it was a romance. What I have to comment about this book is that it hit really hard at home for me. Nate was a Iraqi war veteran. He served two tours; one in Iraq and the other in Afganistan. He suffers from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). It goes into the struggles he faces every day from: nightmares, to jumping at every little sound and shadow, panic attacks, fear of fire, loss in memory, short temper and anger iss...more
The characters were actually really likealbe. I wanted to be into this story because of that alone! Alas while things started out pretty good (note I didn't realize this was a christian book when I started) it got to be too much before the halfway mark. The christian rhetoric just went from a pleasant part of the story to up and up and up and hit come on now for me.
I had a pretty good chuckle when she expounded about her 2 yr. old's language skills being "off the chart". Perhaps spend some more...more
I had a pretty good chuckle when she expounded about her 2 yr. old's language skills being "off the chart". Perhaps spend some more...more
May 22, 2012
Highland-dreamer
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
christian-romance
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This book was so sweet...and innocent, and pretty well written too. I read this book because I just got a Kindle, and I could download it for free. I could have easily just read the first few pages and left it, but instead I read it all while on two long plane rides. So, while it might not earn any mainstream critical acclaim, I enjoyed it. I'd also read other books in the series.
This novel is set in Texas, and that was part of the appeal for me (having grown up in Texas). There was a whole cha...more
This novel is set in Texas, and that was part of the appeal for me (having grown up in Texas). There was a whole cha...more
Jenna and her young son live on her parents ranch. After a bad divorce she needed to come home and regroup. She is now a partner running her father's ranch along with her brothers.
Nate Langley comes back home after 2 tours over in Iraq. He wasn't expecting to see Jenna so soon after coming home for good. He and Jenna were old friends from high school and at one time cared for each other. Of course Jenna would never have known how he felt then as he kept to himself.
The two meet up and the roman...more
Nate Langley comes back home after 2 tours over in Iraq. He wasn't expecting to see Jenna so soon after coming home for good. He and Jenna were old friends from high school and at one time cared for each other. Of course Jenna would never have known how he felt then as he kept to himself.
The two meet up and the roman...more
Pretty good. There are a lot of references to Christianity/sprituality, etc. While I realize it is a Christian romance novel there seemed to be an almost excessive amount of Christian references. While I appreciate that the characters relied on God and their faith to see them through hard times, occasionally it seemed a bit unrealistic.
This book almost made it seem like it was easy to trust God in tough times and easy to pray through worries and they would just go away. I tend to prefer characte...more
This book almost made it seem like it was easy to trust God in tough times and easy to pray through worries and they would just go away. I tend to prefer characte...more
4 likes · like · see review
Jan 16, 2012
Ursula Gorman
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
children,
christanity,
christian,
dramatic,
endearing,
entertaining,
faith,
family,
family-bond,
friendship,
hero,
marriage,
memories,
multiple-story-lines,
romance
Jenna's Cowboy...is FANTASTIC!!! This is one of the best books I've read in a long time! It is heartwarming, touching, moving, sweet and tender!
Jenna is going through a trial; trying to adjust as a single mom after divorcing her cheating husband. She has built a wall around her heart.
Nate is goign through his own trial; trying to adjust to life after the military. He's afraid to get too close to anyone, afraid he'll hurt them during the flashbacks he has from his time in the military.
Both of t...more
Jenna is going through a trial; trying to adjust as a single mom after divorcing her cheating husband. She has built a wall around her heart.
Nate is goign through his own trial; trying to adjust to life after the military. He's afraid to get too close to anyone, afraid he'll hurt them during the flashbacks he has from his time in the military.
Both of t...more
Jenna has returned home, broken hearted with her son to heal. Her marriage has ended and she no longer feels like the homecoming queen who left town.
Nate has returned home too. The former football store is now a war hero plagued with post traumatic distress. Nate has always been in love with Jenna, but her father warned him away from her years earlier because he wanted something more for his only daughter.
Jenna and Nate reconnect as friends wanting more, but first Nate must overcome the demons f...more
Nate has returned home too. The former football store is now a war hero plagued with post traumatic distress. Nate has always been in love with Jenna, but her father warned him away from her years earlier because he wanted something more for his only daughter.
Jenna and Nate reconnect as friends wanting more, but first Nate must overcome the demons f...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I really enjoyed Jenna's Cowboy. I immediately fell in love with the town, the characters and Gillenwater's colorful descriptions of life on a West Texas ranch.
I thought the struggles she gave Nate were authentic and well written. As a friend whose husband is in the military once said, Army life is not a "drama." It's not a Lifetime movie special.
Nate's struggle with PTSD, and the other characters reaction to it, seemed genuine.
I found Jenna's struggle to piece her life back together, after bein...more
Nate Langley has returned to Callahan Crossing. He was off fighting in the war. He is ready to come home and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Jenna Callahan Colby and her son Zach are content living on her family’s ranch, after a failed marriage. Jenna thought she had everything her heart desired…till she saw Nate. Jenna and Nate were high school sweethearts but Jenna’s father felt that Nate wasn’t good enough for Jenna and sent him packing.
Now Jenna and Nate are all grown up. Can these two reconnec...more
Jenna Callahan Colby and her son Zach are content living on her family’s ranch, after a failed marriage. Jenna thought she had everything her heart desired…till she saw Nate. Jenna and Nate were high school sweethearts but Jenna’s father felt that Nate wasn’t good enough for Jenna and sent him packing.
Now Jenna and Nate are all grown up. Can these two reconnec...more
Sep 19, 2012
Aubrey Hansen
added it
I didn't finish this novel, so I'm not giving it a star rating, but I wanted to review it and explain why I didn't finish reading it.
Why? Because there was no plot.
I'll confess that I usually don't read romance novels. Actually, I think this is my first legit one. So clearly I'm not the target audience for this book, and my perception is biased accordingly. But what turned me off from this book wasn't the romance--it was the fact that there wasn't anything else besides the romance.
3 chapters in...more
Why? Because there was no plot.
I'll confess that I usually don't read romance novels. Actually, I think this is my first legit one. So clearly I'm not the target audience for this book, and my perception is biased accordingly. But what turned me off from this book wasn't the romance--it was the fact that there wasn't anything else besides the romance.
3 chapters in...more
1 like · like · see review
A wonderful love inspired christian romance that tackles how our returning veterans must pick up their lives and make a new. Jenna is Nate's boss's daughter and best friend's sister and he has loved her since High School. But Dad told him he wasn't good enough - that was before he went off to war and became a decorated war hero. But because of emotional scars from battle Nate is not sure if he can ever be the right one for Jenna. Jenna married the boy her Dad thought was headed for big things -...more
Jenna’s Cowboy wasn’t like many of the sappy sweet, predictable romances I read. This one takes Christian fiction and gives it “real-life” issues and appeal.
Without giving away too much of the storyline, the characters of Jenna and Nate both remain true to their Christian roots from the beginning of the story however, in no way, seem perfect. Jenna is trying to cope with the rejection of her recent divorce and stigma as a single mom in a small town and Nate is having difficulty adjusting to bein...more
Without giving away too much of the storyline, the characters of Jenna and Nate both remain true to their Christian roots from the beginning of the story however, in no way, seem perfect. Jenna is trying to cope with the rejection of her recent divorce and stigma as a single mom in a small town and Nate is having difficulty adjusting to bein...more
This is a heartwarming romance that you will enjoy reading. The characters are genuine and their struggles are believable. Gillenwater's writing draws you into the town and the lives of the people who live there. Listed as a christian inspirational romance this book does not really quote scriptures or preach to you.
Can you ever get a second chance at your first love?
Jenna Callahan Colby thought she was content. A partner on her father's successful ranch, she is surrounded by family and friends....more
Can you ever get a second chance at your first love?
Jenna Callahan Colby thought she was content. A partner on her father's successful ranch, she is surrounded by family and friends....more
This book is about a divorced single mother named Jenna to son Zach and her long lost love Nate. I will start off with the things that I liked. The PTSD syndrom that Nate suffers from is very well described and complelty believable. After learning more about this terrible syndrom I have a lot more empathy for those suffering with it. The characters Nate and Jenna were very likeable and you want to root for both of them. I like how patriotic the story was dealing with Nate as a returning Iraqi Ve...more
Oct 11, 2012
Patrice
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
october-challenge,
2012-books-read
I enjoyed this book. I admire the way the author introduced the characters and how she brought Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) into the story. This was a story that reminds us that those who join the armed forces, and are sent into combat, more often than not will return home, not only with physical battle scars but, deep emotional ones as well. The author portrays a young man’s struggle with return to civilian life and how he sees himself as a danger to others and himself when he can’t se...more
Jan 27, 2010
Mollie *scoutrmom*
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Christian Romance enthusiasts
Recommended to Mollie *scoutrmom* by:
won in Goodreads contest
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This was wonderfully written. It is a touching story of friendship, first loves, and second chances. The author did a magnificent job at capturing me completely. I could truly feel all the things that Jenna felt. And the things that Nate went through! Man, I sure felt everything that Jenna's cowboy did! From being scared of fire to the flashbacks, it was as if I was going through it all.
While I loved that(because that's what makes a book fantastic!), what I loved most was the detail the author...more
While I loved that(because that's what makes a book fantastic!), what I loved most was the detail the author...more
Apr 13, 2013
Jenna
added it
As a highschool student, my class is being encouraged to read and branch out. Jenna's Cowboy is the first book i read. It is very interesting and never gets boring.
Jennas highschool boyfriend, Nate Langely, was sent away and has suddenly reappeared. She instantly falls in love with him and he adores her son, Zach. Nate had been in a war and experienced some pretty tragic things. He is paranoid and on edge all the time. He instantly reacts anything that sounds like a gun shot. Jenna loves him re...more
Jennas highschool boyfriend, Nate Langely, was sent away and has suddenly reappeared. She instantly falls in love with him and he adores her son, Zach. Nate had been in a war and experienced some pretty tragic things. He is paranoid and on edge all the time. He instantly reacts anything that sounds like a gun shot. Jenna loves him re...more
The story line appealed to me because of Nate's PTSD, which made me want to read how he would be dealing with it, but it's been a boring read nonetheless. There were a couple of good moments, but I had expected more drama, more pain. Nate is the only interesting character. The heroine is a brave woman and doing a wonderful job raising a child alone, but she's rather boring despite her somewhat interesting past. The rest of the characters, including the hero and heroine, are almost unnaturally fo...more
This was a sweet and entertaining story, when it was telling the story. I didn't rate it higher because there were a few parts that were much too drawn out. Like when it took an entire chapter to pick out a mum for a football game. And the descriptions of herding cattle and farming almost started to read like a gradeschool textbook with all the details about the various techniques.
But I liked the characters, I like anything that makes you want a happy ending for everyone involved and that's most...more
But I liked the characters, I like anything that makes you want a happy ending for everyone involved and that's most...more
Blurb: Jenna Callahan has a young son and rewarding work on her father's ranch. She's content. But she never expected to see Nate Langley back in town--the first guy she noticed, the one her father sent away all those years ago. And she never thought the attraction they felt would be as strong as ever. Jenna's cowboy has some healing of his own to do, though, after two tours of duty in the armed forces. With te help of good friends, strong faith, and a loving family, he hopes to put the horrors...more
This was another free kindle book. Because I've gotten some really bad books and some really good books, I never know what to expect. This was a good book, but it certainly wasn't what I expected.
What I liked about this book was that it wasn't just strictly a romance, but dealt with the serious issues that our vets are coming home with PTSD. Although this is a tough subject, I do feel that what our vets deal with on a day to day basis can be horrifying. I felt the author did a great job research...more
What I liked about this book was that it wasn't just strictly a romance, but dealt with the serious issues that our vets are coming home with PTSD. Although this is a tough subject, I do feel that what our vets deal with on a day to day basis can be horrifying. I felt the author did a great job research...more
I was so looking forward to reading this book. The cover captured my interest of course but that was not all that had. I'd read the first couple of pages on line, and couldn't wait to receive the it so I could get started. The first several pages were good, just as I had read on line but that is where it stopped.
I didn't get why the author would have the two characters confess they liked one another beyond friends, and then not go anywhere with it. It's like they missed their moment. As I kept r...more
I didn't get why the author would have the two characters confess they liked one another beyond friends, and then not go anywhere with it. It's like they missed their moment. As I kept r...more
I should have realized this book was not for me waayyyy before I did.
What kind of Cowboy doesn't drink beer, talk sh*t and mess around? A Christian cowboy that's who.
I didn't mind so much when I found out this was a Christian romance( note to self research books first, but it was free on amazon) I really wouldn't of minded if the praying and praising wasn't what made majority of the storyline!
I liked the idea of this story, a reunited love. Jenna a divorcee and Nate a war hero with PTSD, and...more
What kind of Cowboy doesn't drink beer, talk sh*t and mess around? A Christian cowboy that's who.
I didn't mind so much when I found out this was a Christian romance( note to self research books first, but it was free on amazon) I really wouldn't of minded if the praying and praising wasn't what made majority of the storyline!
I liked the idea of this story, a reunited love. Jenna a divorcee and Nate a war hero with PTSD, and...more
3 likes · like · see review
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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“She's trollin' for a breadwinner and uses a short skirt for bait.”
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3 people liked it
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Aug 21, 2012 09:49am