Jo Goodman > Quotes

“He chuckled. "I cannot speak for other men, but I want the woman who stumbles over a word like virgin and can say whore without raising a blush." His smile faded and he spoke soberly. "Your soldier… your first love… and every circumstance that followed in some way brought you to me, and while I can wish that you had never had your heart hurt, that you had never suffered even a moment of doubt, of pain, of sadness… of betrayal, I also know that you would in some way be changed. It would have made your life different. Mine also." North gave her hand a light squeeze. "Whether we are shaped by the circumstances of our lives, or by our perceptions of them, I still find I very much admire the shape you have become.”
― Jo Goodman, Let Me Be The One

“There aren't any dancing girls in Bitter Springs," Finn said. "Leastways not he kind that kick their legs so high in the air you can see..." He leaned forward, looked around Kellen for this brother, and asked, "What do you call it?"
"France," Rabbit said. "They kick their legs so high you can see France."
Finn nodded. He looked up at Kellen. "You ever seen France?"
Kellen sighed feelingly. "Not in a long while.”
― Jo Goodman, The Last Renegade

“I'm not that squeamish, Mr. Stone."

"Ethan," he said. "I'm naked. I'm in a tub. You're wearing my nightshirt. You've already slept in my bed. I think you should call me Ethan.”
― Jo Goodman, Wild Sweet Ecstasy

“Being surrounded by toadies does not mean you are respected; it means you are the head toad.”
― Jo Goodman

“Love made room for conflict. It allowed for the expression of more than one view and invited the paradox that disagreement was vital to harmony. Love required accepting and meant changing oneself rather than demanding change of others.”
― Jo Goodman, Let Me Be The One

“She hesitated. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Don’t you?” he asked. “You changed my heart, Rachel.”
She felt her throat constrict, making any reply impossible.
“Rachel?” Her silence rarely made him uncomfortable, but this time he had no clear view of her features and no way to gauge her reaction. He wondered if he should have made a more straightforward declaration. “Did you hear me say I love you?”
She turned her cheek into his shoulder. “I heard you.”
― Jo Goodman, Never Love a Lawman

“There is a part of me that wishes you would tell me what I want to hear, but I appreciate that you are being honest about the struggle. It will do,” she said. “For now.”
― Jo Goodman, In Want of a Wife

“It was not enough now, but when she stepped back into the bedroom and saw that Morgan had not returned to say good night, she counted it as a blessing that she was familiar making peace with disappointment.”
― Jo Goodman, In Want of a Wife

“You can let your breath out," she said, moving around to the side of the tub. She gave him the bottle again. "here, have another drink. I'm all done. You're going to live."

"I knew I was going to survive the injury," he said lowly. His eyes held hers. "I didn't know if I was going to survive your attentions.”
― Jo Goodman, Wild Sweet Ecstasy

“Finally, Jane found disappointment. It was there, deep and abiding, squeezing her heart more than just a little. Discovery, she knew, was better when it was shared.”
― Jo Goodman, In Want of a Wife

“It is necessary to know that Cole is a neat-freak. They are both exhausted after a medical situation happens in the story. This is not part of the quote.

"Cole sat at the head of the table at a right angle to Rhyne. He snapped his napkin open and tucked one corner into the collar of his shirt. When Rhyne looked at him in surprise, he said, "You're too busy to do more laundry. I thought I'd try to keep my shirts reasonably clean."
Rhyne continued to stare at him.
"What?" he asked, looking down at himself. "Have I already spilled something?"
"My heart," she said feelingly. "All over you.”
― Jo Goodman, Marry Me

“Guarding one’s thoughts always presented fewer challenges than guarding one’s emotions.”
― Jo Goodman, In Want of a Wife

“she counted it as a blessing that she was familiar making peace with disappointment.”
― Jo Goodman, In Want of a Wife

“Sometimes I think they are, not that it’s ever been said,”
― Jo Goodman, This Gun for Hire

“Jesus,” Morgan said feelingly.
When he saw Jane’s lips purse with disapproval, he reminded her that he was not a godly man. “Taking the Lord’s name in vain is the least of the commandments I’ve broken.”
“I’m not sure they were numbered for purposes of ranking. I believe they deserve equal weight.”
“Maybe so, Miss Middlebourne, and maybe the next time I get the urge to invoke the Lord’s name, I’ll just kill Miss Ross instead.”
Jane pressed her lips together, but it was an inadequate stopper for her amusement. Laughter bubbled anyway.
“You have a wicked sense of humor, Mr. Longstreet.”
― Jo Goodman, In Want of a Wife

“Weakness begets evil”
― Jo Goodman, Beyond a Wicked Kiss

“Griffin’s narrow, crooked smile held a hint of derision. “You are a romantic, then.”

“No. Not at all. But I hold out hope that others might be.”
― Jo Goodman, The Price Of Desire

“Tess?" "Why not?" "Why not?" Jonna repeated. "Because the notion's absurd." "Because Tess is black?" "Because I don't love Grant Sheridan!" Except for the crackle and hiss of the fire there was no other sound in the room. It was as if the larger silence held substance and grounded them separately, holding them still. Their eyes locked, but the exchange was without meaning, their expressions quickly and skillfully guarded. She did not take back the words she had spoken. He did not ask if they were true. Jonna could never say how long she stood there. She only knew that she was”
― Jo Goodman, My Reckless Heart

“Alex! Your dress!” Landis called after her. “Come down and we’ll find you something else to wear!” Alexis shook her head and laughed. “I told the captain I would need a pair of trousers and he refused me! If the sight of my legs is so distasteful, then don’t
look!” Landis joined the laughter of the others in response to her suggestion. There was certainly nothing wrong with her legs. They all tilted their heads back as they watched her climb higher.”
― Jo Goodman, The Captain's Lady

“I can pay you and your crew a great deal of money if you will return me to my home.” Cloud stood up, picking up his own knife. With a dexterity matching Alexis’s he threw the knife at the door. It stuck in the wood only a few inches from hers. “No,” he answered firmly. “I do not want your money and neither do my men.”
― Jo Goodman, The Captain's Lady

“You might just be able to make it, Alex,” he whispered, to give her strength. “And you might just be able to stop me,” she said, returning it.”
― Jo Goodman, The Captain's Lady