Over the Moon at the Big Lizard Diner

Texas Hill Country #3

by Lisa Wingate

Big Lizard Bottoms--where getting hitched is a local industry--is not any place Lindsey Attwood, a play-it-safe paleontologist who's sworn off romance, ever expected to find herself. She's here posing as a horse psychology student to help recover dinosaur tracks stolen from a local guest ranch. After only a day at the ranch, things start spiraling out of control. Her horse-therapy horse hates her, she's been adopted by a huge stray dog with a bad reputation, and there's this local rancher who has her all moonstruck. After years of digging around in the past, Lindsey's wondering if it's finally time to see what the present has to offer.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

307 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Lisa Wingate is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Before We Were Yours, which remained on the bestseller list for over two years. Her award-winning works have been selected for state and community One Book reads, have been published in over forty languages, and have appeared on bestseller lists worldwide. The group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa and six others as recipients of the National Civics Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life. She lives in Texas and Colorado with her family and her deceptively cute little teddy bear of a dog, Huckleberry. Find her at www.lisawingate.com, on Facebook at LisaWingateAuthorPage, or on Instagram @author_lisa_wingate

Reviews

[Amanda Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was definitely the best of the trilogy. I had never even heard of Wingate until I stumbled across someone selling a number of books, including the second one in the trilogy, Lone Star Cafe. I got that and checked the others out from the library to read the complete series. I have to say, that dollar spent was well-worth discovering these stories! I especially related to the character Lindsey, a single mother who has been burned in the past, and is afraid to love again. As Lindsey gained insight during a horse psychology class, I felt like I was taking in the same lessons. After reading the previous books, I was concerned that the stories might get too predictable like other romances tend to, but this one took a couple of unexpected turns that made me get into the story even more. After this series, I'm definitely a new Lisa Wingate fan, and plan to look into some of her other series soon!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars ✨

[Tricia Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a single woman and her daughter being separated for the summer and finding themselves again. Actual rating 3.5

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lighter read with a strong small-town feel, a quick read and really a fun one. It’s quite clean, just a handful of mild swears, and I especially loved the crazy dog in the story that is the real MC of the piece. Lindsey was a neat protagonist and I loved how the change of scenery helped heal her heart after too long and shows her strengths she didn’t know she still had. The small-town cast of characters is really fun to read about, and I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is pure joy, it's almost happy from start to finish and when it's not, there's still a sense that it'll be happy soon enough. I enjoyed it and it's a light, easy read. great to take your mind off things but there's no great plot or dimension to it hence the rating.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the Texas series for Wingate and I thought it was the best. Kind of thought the second was too much like the first. The third has a kicker thrown in in the form of a big shaggy lost Great Pyrenees sheepdog. It's a very sweet book and be sure to read the article titled "Wandering Shepherd" at the very end. Highly recommend for lovers of dogs and the romantically inclined.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book and awesome series. Each book is basically about a city dweller finding life and love in small town Texas. And of course in a small town story, you get lots of wonderful quirky characters.
This was my first series by Lisa Wingate and I will definitely be looking for more of her books.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lindsey is twin sister of Laura and also friend of Collie from the previous two books in the series.
It's called the Big Lizard because of fossilized dinosaur tracks in the rock. Someone cut out the best ones and stole them. Lindsey is helping with the investigation. Her long absent ex-husband suddenly pays child support and takes their 8 yr old daughter to Mexico for the summer even though he hasn’t ever contacted her. My least favorite of the series.

"Parents, I'd learned since becoming one, were imperfect people feeling their way through the uncharted wilderness of their children's lives." Ch 7

"Setting out together in a marriage is a lot like setting out on the river. Some parts will be rough, some will be smooth. You can't see from the start where it's gonna travel and where it's gonna end up. Sometimes it'll turn a sharp corner. Sometimes it'll drift along awhile. The thing is, no matter what the river does, both parties got to paddle equally, see? Piloting a canoe down the river is all about working together to keep things afloat. One party doesn't paddle, the canoe gets all whompy and turns over in the water. Paddle against each other, the canoe doesn't go anywhere and eventually the current runs the boat into the rocks." Ch 11

“I felt my mother in the room. Her presence so real that I sensed her fingers smoothing tangled strands of hair away from my face.” Ch 19

“I realized something with startling clarity. Jeff could give her things I could not. I could keep her safe. I could teach her to be practical, to plan, to pay bills, have a real job, get up and go to bed on a regular schedule. I couldn’t teach her to shed her cares, no matter how bad they were, run down the hill barefoot, and plunge in the water without knowing how deep it was. I couldn’t teach her to be bold, to meet life head-on and embrace the possibilities. I couldn’t give her the courage to tilt at windmills because I didn’t have it myself.” Ch 20

[Ireland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third and final installment of the Texas Cooking series. It was my least favorite of the three. The main character, Lindsey is a mess and not very likable. However, the male lead, Zach, is everything a gorgeous understanding cowboy should be. So I'm happy.

There are all sorts of dangling story endings, so maybe there will be another book in the series, or the author just couldn't get it all wrapped up. I guess that's probably more realistic to life.

Great writing, good author, nice read.

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF —- AUDIO ONLY … this was free on audible and I like Lisa Wingate, so I decided to check it out. Nope. 🙅🏻‍♀️ not for me. Not the audio at least. When will people realize that no one in Texas speaks like that?! Georgia/alabama and other southern accents are different than Texas.. First strike.. second was the cowboy … and last was saying a Great Pyrenees is not a fan of people… Great Pyrenees are great flock protectors but b they are also some of the sweetest big lazy dogs you’ll ever meet.

This was not for me.

[Diane Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book features a paleontologist looking for stolen fossil tracks, but she finds unexpected love in Texas. Out of the three books, I found Lindsay’s character more developed and conflicted as she tries to navigate her way. I loved her sidekick Mr. Grits, a ginormous sheepdog who causes havoc. I especially loved the tales of Mr. Grits at the end. Makes one want to move to Texas like all these heroines. As it turns out, I read these books because I am moving there, and I like the author’s novels!

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always liked any of Lisa Wingate's books that I have read so was happy to come across a few new ones. This is the third in the series Texas Hill Country and I enjoyed it. I read A LOT of romances and actually remember the story line for all of the books in this series. Usually I have to look at the description to see the story for a reminder. The story is fun and a little unbelievable but enjoyable. I do thing I liked the first two more and would recommend them over this one.

[Cheriwinkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. I have enjoyed all three books in the series and Johanna Parker does an outstanding job narrating. I’m giving 3.5 stars because the better part of this book was Lindsey’s different inner voices battling with each other and her constantly misinterpreting things or letting fear overrule everything else in her life. That got very tiring for me. All-in-all, if you’ve read the first two books, it’s worth reading this one.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey has had a rough go in the past with he ex-Jeff. Her sister, daughter and best friend want more for her and call her to help find the lost dinosaur tracks. Little did she know she was going to meet a cowboy and fall head over heals. Can she trust and learn to love again. Fun book with slap stock funnies!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale about Lindsay Atwood and her summer without her eight year old
Daughter Sydney who is visiting her dad in Mexico. Lindsay, a paleontologist,
Is in a covert mission to help recover dinosaur tracks that were stolen. All
Is well until she meets the Vet and falls for him. She also picks up a huge
Stray sheepdog who causes trouble for many. An older but enjoyable read
By this author.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe if I didn't read all 3 books of this series in a row, I may have liked this one more. This last installment was much like the first two. I love Lisa Wingate's books and will definitely be reading more of her novels.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was part of a series. I read it as a stand alone and didn’t see where I was missing anything. Honestly the title was what piqued my interest. Easy, quick, light read. Nothing earth shattering. Cute story. Don’t find myself itching to read the others in the series.

[Sandy Montero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in this trilogy and they were all good. Each could be a stand alone book but they do have some of the same characters. I recommend you read them in order but you will enjoy them even if you don’t.

[Jan Norton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title is what drew me to this book. The tilte was more fun than the book. I did not like Lindsey. She was too dramatic and unreal. The story was predictable. Maybe I just am not a big fan of romance.

[Danni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last book in the series. Loved all of them.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read, but disappointed at lack of conclusion to the paleontology storyline.

[Patsy Tindell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good one set near San Saba, this one featured a young woman who travels from Denver to her sister in TX. Dinosaur track have been stolen. Broken hearts get mended.

[Karen Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved her method of writing. The story line was a good one, so now I plan on going back and reading the previous books in this series.

[Pamela Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had hoped this series would get better. The first part of the book seemed so promising, but at about halfway through, it lost its edge and became all about, “He loves me; he loves me not....”

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good story by an author I've read before. Enjoyed the horse psychology lesson along with some tie-ins to Texas Cooking by Wingate.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book on tape. 3rd in a series.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tilting at windmills...

[Marianne Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was extraordinary. I was in the mood for a good love story and I got it.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the series for a light read. This was my least favorite of the 3 books. The main character, Lindsey was whiny and irritating. She was not a strong woman.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to miss this series and these people. I could relate to Lindsay. I think she learned a lot, and I know I did. Very well done!