The Texans Secret Daughter (Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch, #1) by Jolene Navarro

The Texans Secret Daughter (Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch, #1) Reviews

• 
  Dixie-Lee Campbell

  Enjoyed this book ! Supportive and meddling parents. Rosemarie is sweet little girl with positive energy ! Jasmine's and Elijah's story throughout was interesting past... and unfolding throughout this book. Enjoyed meeting Elijah's extended family and friends.
  
  First book I have read by Jolene Navarro ... would like to get to get to know the stories about others in Elijah's family and friends.
• 
  Dawn Leonard

  I LOVED this book! It deals with wanting to protect your family, alcoholism, forgiveness, trusting in God, and believing you are both loved and worthy of that love. While I am fortunate enough to not have alcoholism affect my family, I felt like everything the characters were going through was real. This book is filled with emotions that are all dealt with in real ways. I loved and highly recommend book 1 of the Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch series. I really liked the supporting characters too so I can't wait for future books in this series!
  
  I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book from the author. She didn't require me to write a review in exchange for it. I loved the book so much I wanted to write one. All opinions are my own.
• 
  Leisa Wilkins

  I loved this book and could not put it down! I only put it down to do things I couldn't put off. From beginning to end it captures your heart and mind. There are so many wonderful things in this book, but for me it was the chance to begin again. We are reminded that God gives do overs. People may be reluctant to notice, or accept the transformation that only God can do, but it doesn't negate the fact that God can transform anyone's life when they let Him.
  
  This book also reminded me of one of my favorite Scriptures:
  
  "God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life." (Psalm 51:10 MSG)
  
  This is exactly what happened in Elijah De La Rosa's life. He got to begin again. Yes, he hit rock bottom, lost everything, even not knowing about a precious gift, his daughter, because he chose alcohol as a way to deal with his issues. Over time he rebuilt his life on a firm foundation - the Word of God.
  
  This book deals with the impact of alcohol on everyone involved with the person that drinks and doesn’t deal with their problems. It also deals with the importance of being true to yourself and not becoming what others want you to be. It dealt with the power of love - God's love for us and the love that Elijah and Jazz shared. Divorce, time, alcohol, fear, memories - none of those things put out the fire of their love even though they did divorce and hadn’t seen each other for six years.
  
  Ms. Navarro wrote a powerful book filled with hope and a reminder that God's love can transform us. She interlaced life and the Word of God showing us the power available to us through Him.
  
  The characters were well formed, relatable, real in their emotions, and just lovable, people you want to get to know. I enjoyed spending time with them.
  
  One of the most heart tugging scenes for me was when the judge fell and Elijah just sat on the floor next to him. He shared some real truths that made a difference. I don't want to share anymore and give it away but it's a powerful scene.
  
  I hope we get Damian and Belle's stories! I know there's more to come but I want to know more about these two.
  
  I highly recommend this book. It's a feel good book. While the subject matter is painful there is a HEA! Redemption. Second chances. Forgiveness. Love. There's something to be said about these things and Ms. Navarro said it well!
  
  Full disclosure – I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review. I've expressed what I genuinely felt about this book. I enjoyed it!
• 
  Ishara

  I actually bought this book in error but I am so glad I did! It tells the story of a couple whose marriage failed due to addiction. It is a beautiful second chance story with a strong religious theme, which I found to be comforting. Recovery from addiction is a tough path to traverse and this book highlighted the struggle and also the tough road to redemption. Lovely read.
• 
  Angela

  This book caught me from the beginning, when Jazmine's ex walked into the room and she wasn't ready to tell him about their daughter. The emotions from these characters were rich and realistic. The pain, worries, fear, and their trust in God really pulled me in different directions as I felt for them and everything they experienced. Forgiveness was a huge factor in this story, as they both had much to forgive. She had to forgive him for the emotional pain he caused, and he had to forgive her for walking out on him and keeping his daughter a secret. Family was also a huge factor, as sometimes well-meaning family can sway a person the wrong way. It all worked out for the best, and walking away from him then was probably the best thing she could have done for him and his faith. A really good read for when you need an uplifting, fun, and romantic story. Highly recommended.
• 
  Anna Marie

  I'm torn. I like this book... and I also have issues with this book. So... three stars?
  
  Jazmine is a strong, independent, adult woman - all of those developed in the half decade since she divorced her alcoholic husband. Or so we're told, over and over. She's *stronger* now. She's matured. What we're *shown* is that she's an absolute moron.
  
  As the story begins, we have the heroine going into a food pantry with donations and running into her ex for the first time in six years. It goes something like this: "I have to get out of here. But I'm not moving for no good reason. But my daughter he's never met is coming in here in a minute, and I have to head her and my mother off. But I'm gonna stand here and be all talky-talky for twenty minutes so that the author can write a REALLY crappy shock-n-awe encounter. And that encounter will be SO STAGED everyone reading feels 'this insults our intelligence as readers'. Which is not good."
  
  It. was. BADLY done.
  
  Then she invites Elijah over for two hours with her/her daughter. But when the parents show up an hour early, she doesn't say, "Mom, you said I could have two hours - since you've reneged on that, I'm taking Rosie and spending the second hour with Elijah elsewhere (which is what a strong, independent, adult woman would do)... no, she cows to her parents and is this distasteful blob of pacifist behavior.
  
  Or how about Pg 42. "I want to see her tomorrow," Elijah said. ...She looked down. "It might be best if we wait a little longer." Same conversation, two pages later: Pg 44. "I want to see her tomorrow." "Okay, but not alone." You're telling me THAT is a strong, independent woman? She just caved at his coaxing/demanding, hello...
  
  Elijah is doing the 12-step Alcoholic Anonymous program... and he has to apologize to the ten people he hurt the most. WHY is Jazz on his list, but not her parents?!
  
  On pg 153 we're told that Jazz knew nothing of Elijah's horrible upbringing - being locked in a shed in thunderstorms with mud sloshing in around him, being whupped, etc. But we were also told that they talked for hours upon hours when they were dating/first married. How is it he never confided in his true love about any of this until page 153? Mmmmnnnnnot believable.
  
  Additionally, the author (Navarro) thanks her wonderful editor, but pg 163 there's a 'y' in the middle of nowhere, and further down he "moved to the kitchen to drape a town over the edge of the sink". ((Towel?)) On pg 181, "the urge to beg her to keep fight for him hit him like a tidal wave." ((Fighting?)) Not good. Just sayin.
  
  Another thing: the lack of description in the book about drove me crazy. We're told Jazz has 'mahogany skin' - I'm assuming she's African American from that? But she has an Irish grandfather who gave her freckles, so... what is that? Is her mother white and her father black? We're told Damien has a scar on his chin - it isn't even MENTIONED in book #3, and it's not described here, so... is it just a nick or something significant? Damien's missing an arm - forearm amputation, further up...? We have NO idea. We don't know what kind of scar Belle has - discoloration, raised, how big, how noticeable? We don't know ANYTHING, because the author uses no description. She's limited to facial expressions and hand gestures during miles and MILES of dialogue.
  
  But in spite of that? I *liked* Elijah. I liked his passion. I liked everything about him. He... made the book. Jazz - for all her being accepted to three Ivy League schools was craptastically lackluster and unexceptional, but Elijah bought the book two whole stars. With him, there was actual feeling and passion in a Love, Inspired novel - something mostly taboo, because passion is a no-no in christianity, apparently. But it's here, in this one. Which is... I can't tell you HOW amazing.
  
  So I liked it/him. But at the same time,
  I had issues with a lot of things.
  Hence the three stars.
  Definitely better than book #3... as a heads up.
• 
  Natasha Jones-Tharp

  I just got done reading "The Texan's Secret Daughter" by: Jolene Navarro. And I must say I completely loved it, I loved how they had such a strong faith when they knew the going got tough and har.. and I love how it was a mixed marriage and not just your normal ordinary marriage! This was my first time having a book that had a mixed marriage in it. I also loved how they were able to come together to work something out for their daughter's sake! I also loved how she was willing to give him a second chance at getting to know their daughter and in the end they were able to finally come together and to start something new. I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a strong faith."
• 
  Cecelia

  This was a nice sweet book. I enjoyed reading it. It's a book about second chances. The book also dealt with alcoholism, and that is a subject on which I've often focused on with my own writing. I thought the hero (Elijah) was so hard on himself regarding his past mistakes. The heroine (Jazmine) has made mistakes as well. I thought the second-chance lesson pertained to Jazmine's and Elijah's relationship, as well as our relationship with our Creator. The biggest takeaway from this book is that God gives all of us a second, third, fourth...etc. chance. Forgiveness is also a major lesson learned from reading this insightful novel.
• 
  Nancy

  Elijah & Jazmine.
  Their daughter, Rosemarie, is 6 yrs old.
  But they are divorced and Elijah finds out about this daughter at the start of the book.
  Forgiveness and redemption are major themes.
  Setting: Gulf coast of TX. June,2019
  This is the second book I have read by this author and will definitely read the rest of this series.
• 
  Harlequin Books

  Categories
  Inspirational Romance, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Wholesome Romance
  
  Miniseries
  Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch
• 
  Harlequin Books

  Categories
  Inspirational Romance, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Wholesome Romance
  
  Miniseries
  Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch
• 
  Andi

  As someone that has seen first hand what an addiction can do to a family, I very much appreciated this book and the obstacles that both the hero and his family had to overcome! I can relate to so many of the issues presented and I applaud Jolene on another well-written story of how God and grace can overcome anything.
• 
  Melody

  Great faith-based book. Loved the well-developed characters. Well-written--a treat to read!
• 
  Linda

  Jolene Navarro is a new-to-me-author and I found this story to be both delightful and heart-warming. It’s a story that touched on so many different levels of emotion, including forgiveness and second chances. A definite must-read! I will absolutely be reading more from this author!