Just Down the Road

Harmony #4

by Jodi Thomas

From the New York Times bestselling author of Chance of a Lifetime and The Comforts of Home...

Harmony, Texas, is a place where dreams are born. As the townspeople face unexpected endings and new beginnings, they also come face to face with themselves—and what’s most important in life...

 When Tinch Turner lost his wife, he gave up on living. Now he spends his nights brooding, boozing, and brawling. When one of his escapades lands him in the ER, he finds himself staring up at the beautiful new doctor in town. For the first time in years, he feels a spark, but Addison Spencer wants nothing to do with the unruly rancher—or any man for that matter. She’s only in Harmony four months, long enough for the trouble she left behind to be over. But then a vulnerable little boy barrels into both their lives, forcing them out of the past—and into a future where love is just down the road...

 In the meantime, as Reagan Truman grieves for her beloved uncle, she finds comfort in the makeshift family she’s made in Harmony—and in a new baby, the first born in the Wright Funeral Home in 45 years, proving to everyone that life does go on…

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

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 3, 2012

About the author

I'm a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author, wife, mother, in-law, grandmother, sister, friend, and owner of one fat cat.

Reviews

[Anne OK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another perfect visit to Harmony! The series gets better with each new release. So good to reconnect with old friends and meet some new ones as well. JDtR is full of warmth, some sadness, tension, and lots of hope and new birth for future books. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing more of Dr. Addison, Tinch and Jamie. Their emotional story kept me glued to my chair. Jodi Thomas has created a cast of outstanding characters who draw you in and hold you close. Each visit is so good that I never want to miss a single experience. I get a little sad when it's time to say farewell to Tyler, Reagan, Noah, Big and the rest of the gang. No doubt when the next invitation to visit Harmony arrives, I'll be there!

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5; 5 stars; A

Whenever I read a novel set in Harmony, Texas, I just want to stop everything and go there for a visit.

I love this series. Its not fast moving, and you have to wait a while for each book, but its worth it. Over the years Thomas has been telling the stories of several people in the town and building a community out of all the 'extras' in the cast. This was a sweet story of a little boy who has has a horrendous childhood so far, a grieving man who fixes injured and traumatized horses, a doctor fighting for freedom from a suffocating family, and an undertaker who is finally achieving his heart's desire. Some of these characters (like the undertaker) have been slowly evolving throughout all the books. Some are pretty new.

I was saddened by the changes in Reagan's circumstance when her uncle died but really glad to finally see some progress in her relationship with Noah.

I also put this book on my Women's fiction shelf because its borderline....though really...what the heck is women's fiction?

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally! Closure for *** and ***. I was waiting for them to recognize how important they were to each other.

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well...it seems like everyones' story is complete...sort of!

I do have to say that the bombshell Kate dropped on Ty had my mouth dropping to the floor and me squealing with happiness. This is what I was waiting for!

I fell in love with Truman and his story...such a sweet and loving man.

Noah again pissing me off but kind of redeemed himself along the way.

I'm loving Beau especially him trying to follow advice from Martha Q.

Damn ..can you tell how wrapped up I am with these residents of Harmony, TX?

I'm just hoping they continue to appear in the upcoming books of this series!

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Just Down the Road" is my first visit to Jodi Thomas' charming fictional community of Harmony, TX. Where have I been? I was missing something really good--heartwarming romance with a touch of pathos and mystery-suspense. I have read other works by Jodi Thomas, and she always writes heart with humor, and that is a very good thing! Let me just say this about the character of Tinch Turner--the lonesome cowboy with a loving, true heart--where is my very own Tinch? When Tinch married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Lori Anne, he never dreamed that cancer would claim her at a young age. He acts out his grief by boozing, brawling, and brooding about what he'll never have again. A frequent visitor to the ER for after-fight medical care, Tinch sits up and takes notice when he meets the new ER doctor, Addison Spencer. Something about the pale, uptight, lovely woman makes Tinch want to clean up his act. When he discovers that Addison is his closest neighbor, "just down the road" from his place, things really get interesting. Often prickly, and always intriguing, Addison is far from indifferent to Tinch. She only plans to be in Harmony for a few months, and she left her former home to be free from her father and her almost-fiance. Meeting a gorgeous man unlike anyone she's ever known was definitely not on her agenda. Tinch's life takes another dramatic turn when he is suddenly given the care of his orphaned nephew, whose mother was Lori Anne's sister. Jamie is a dear little boy in need of much TLC. His drug-addicted mother's involvement with drug dealers left her dead and Jamie beaten and bruised. Tinch and Addison both feel the need to care for the child, and Addison begins staying at Tinch's house to help with Jamie. The three of them become close, and each has hopes and dreams of what a future together could mean. When the drug dealers return, searching for a fortune in cash, the very real danger they present may bring those dreams to an end. Will two lost hearts, who didn't even know they were looking for love, come together with one small boy and find real happiness as a family? There are wonderful supporting characters in "Just Down the Road"--old friends from the Harmony community who also seek resolution and a happy ending. Part of the pleasure of this book was getting a feel for the town, its people, and a glimpse of down-home Texas living. Even though I have lived in a very small town for most of my life, I never tire of “small town” romances. Small towns sometimes hold big secrets! People are very interconnected. What happens to one person affects someone else, and the ripple effect is started. However, there is an essential sweetness to small towns. Memories of earlier days, some bittersweet, are held dear. People aren’t just faces, they’re family and friends. There’s always a second chance for first loves in small towns.

Review Copy Gratis Berkley Books

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book loses a point for killing a dog off. Why do authors do this?! Also, I really don’t like Noah anymore and I disliked him even more in this book. Even after he mocked Reagan for being a virgin, she loses her virginity to him. How romantic 😐🙄

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slice of life in a small Texas town 🩵

[Kumi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anyone else seriously hate Noah in this book (and the previous ones to be honest). If he quote “always thought of Reagan as his girlfriend” why is he sleeping around with all the other girls?

I get that he’s young and famous so it was the logic that annoyed me not the actual sleeping around. I also hate that he seems so insistent on Reagan sleeping with him. Of course she doesn’t trust you you keep flitting in and out of her life?

I loved Reagan and Noah at the start but I wish the way they got together was different. I wanted him to say sorry ??? and for him to stick around for a while before they slept together to prove that he was committed. She also told Big about her rape but not Noah ? It just felt really off.

He hurt her too much without any apologies and his excuse was oh i feel like you don’t love me or trust me cause you don’t have sex with me. But i’m also going to ask you to wait whilst not waiting myself? I just didn’t enjoy the way their relationship planned out. They were so cute at the start and were pretty much my whole reason for reading the series.

[Ririn Aziz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Maybe because I have read the series back-to-back so the magic was a little bit lost with this one. The story focus entirely to Tinch, Addison and Jamie. Even if the others were still around, it felt a bit crowded. I do want to know more about the relationships of Reagan-Noah and Tyler-Kate but this time there is the feeling of forcefulness. And the others were like thrown together casually, just to remind us they were still there, but the feeling of harmony in Harmony was not there, not like in previous books.

Might have to wait a bit before I started on the next one... (if I can helped it ;))

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2012/04/review-...

Favorite Quote: “Your right, Sheriff, Noah’s got loose lips. It goes with his shifty eyes. “

Tinch Turner’s wife died after a long battle with cancer. Unable to handle her leaving him, he unconsciously begins a campaign to kill himself with alcohol and fighting. He meets the new ER doctor, Addison Spencer, when one particular bar fight leaves him lands him in the hospital. A beautiful woman who leaves Tinch cold with her brittle prickly personality. Addison has secrets of her own though. After spending her whole life trapped under her fathers thumb, she has come to hide in Harmony and try to discover who Addison Spencer really is. As Tinch and Addison circle around each other, each veterans to the pain human beings can inflict upon one another, they find themselves having to trust each other when a young child enters their lives and brings danger with him.

Regan Truman’s uncle is dying and that that leaves Regan feeling lost and abandoned. When Noah comes back to town with intentions of picking up where they left off, Regan realizes that she will forever love him but doesn’t really like who he has become. She begins to lean more upon the town and the people who have silently stood by her through thick and then, leaving Noah to face his own demons and wonder if his running cost him the only woman he ever loved.

Taylor Wright and his major have made a life together but Taylor wants the whole package and his major is dragging her feet. When the major is called away for one last mission, Taylor finds himself at a loss for this mission that may cost her life. As Taylor tries to contain his worries, Amber, his cook, brings a miracle into his life and soon Taylor finds the courage to seize his dreams with both hands.

In the 4th book of Jodi Thomas’s wonderful small town oriented series, Just Down The Road, we once again are submerged into the intricate relationships and the bonds that ties them together that make up the town of Harmony, Texas. Romance, friendship, and change all intertwine and revolve around one another as old and new friends try to live their lives in the best way they know how. Four main story lines unfold in here, each a study in the strength of the human heart and its capacity to love, learn, and forgive. While Regan still plays a dominate role in this heavy character driven series, other characters have wormed their way in to top spots and I find myself deeply vested in each and every one of them.

A heavy dose of mystery, suspense, and danger features more predominately in this installment then the previous ones, creating an addictive read that fills you with some strong emotions as you watch those you have come to love fight through the pitfalls of life. I love how human Ms. Thomas’s characters are. Not perfect or even pleasant at times, each one is a vibrant personality that takes command and dominates the scenes they are in. Each relationship is carefully cultivated and allowed to grow and bloom naturally. As with any garden, you may not see anything the first year, or maybe it will bloom hard and heavy only to die in the first frost. Either way, Ms. Thomas shows remarkable insight when she cultivates her garden and the results are a joy for all who are lucky enough to visit it.

Though I was disappointed that Ronnie’s and Marty’s story is still on hold, I enjoyed seeing she is still growing and breaking the bonds that her mother shackled her with. Bigg and his brother Bran are branching out and becoming more then the town ever envisioned for them. Bits and pieces of all the town residents make their way into the story, which rounds it out beautifully and leaves me satisfied yet still wanting book 5 now. Martha Q, one of my favorite characters in the book, is still around, butting into everyone’s business, and coming up with some pretty good advice every now and then.

“Next time you meet a girl, look into her eyes. Don’t walk away without knowing the color of her eyes, and don’t look down once you start talking to her. Second, if your lucky enough to have another female come on to you, you’ve got to spend at least five hours talking to her and listening to her before you touch her. That means no hand holding, or kissing. Five solid hours of talking and if she says one thing that bugs you, walk away. No, run. If she does anything that bothers you, run. I’ve got enough experience that it’s those little things people overlook the first hundred times will drive you crazy when you marry someone.”

I love this series and recommend it to everyone who wants a small town contemporary series with realistic characters whose romances, friendships, and lives will have you waiting anxiously for each new visit. Even though this could be read as a stand alone, I recommend reading the first in the series, Welcome To Harmony. This is a continuation and is written as such.

Overall Rating: A

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tinch Turner has been a loner, ever since the death of his wife.

Dr. Addison Spencer was hoping for a quiet evening in the hospital, so that maybe she could get off early. Yeah right, Addison should have expected that she would not get her wish. It was a Saturday night.

The first time that Addison saw Tinch, it was in the ER. He had been in a bar fight. Let’s say that Tinch did not make a good first impression on Addison. No matter what Addison may think of Tinch, she and he will have to band together for the sake of a little boy.

I have enjoyed this series a lot. It reminds me of another famous series that I also like a lot. Maybe you have heard of it…it is called Virgin River by Robyn Carr. The reason for the reference to Mrs. Carr’s series is that both series feature great characters and story lines but wonderful authors.

I have followed Reagan since the beginning with Welcome to Harmony. I felt like I have grown up with her. To see her turn into a woman in this book made me feel a little bit like a proud mom. I was glad to see her and Noah reconnect. Tinch and Addison made a good couple together. I like that they both did not jump into the romance but it was drawn out in this book until the last third of the book. Also, can I say what an intriguing name Tinch is. Just like the last book, I knew I would finish this book in a matter of a few hours and I was right.

Just Down the Road is like receiving a great, big hug from a loved one. It is warm, makes you feel good and has you wanting another one!

[Janga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jodi Thomas is one of the best storytellers in genre fiction, and in the Harmony books she has created a town that fits the small-town trend and yet remains a distinctive place with characters who are refreshingly different. One of the reasons I love this series is that Thomas takes the characters who would be limited to secondary roles in more conventional books and moves them front and center to feature their lives and their romances. Tinch Turner is no more a typical hero than is Harmony’s undertaker Tyler Wright, but Thomas reveals both as men with a wealth of courage, tenderness, and romanticism.

See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2012/03...

[NatalyaVqs · Rating 2 out of 5]

My second Jodi Thomas Harmony book. What I liked in the first started to annoy me in the second. The nirvana perfection of even the bad and sad stuff becomes cloying. Tinch was an ideal man, Addison maddeningly indecisive, their weird names annoyed me throughout. The four year old has the language and actions of an adult. Tinch talks under anastesia and goes dancing a week after being mortally wounded. Whatever. Good escapist series, thou Dorothy Garlock's and Linda Lael Miller's are better

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this one was barely a 3 star read for me. In a way I hope this is the end of this series, because I think it had really lost steam by the time this book was over.
I really had trouble with the pacing in this one--and that soured my whole experience.
Our hero, Tinch, is a grieving widower who wants nothing more than to die and be reunited with his beloved Lori Anne. He is reluctant to do the deed himself, but if someone else manages to kill him--well, that would be okay. And yet we are supposed to believe that having to care for and protect his small nephew suddenly snaps him out of his funk so completely that he is clearing out Lori's clothes and falling in love with the lady doctor--all in the space of a few weeks. I was very reluctant to buy that.
Addison, the heroine, has been the new doctor at the hospital for months now. She's only there for a year and then she's going back home, even though she doesn't really want to. And lo, the power of a small boy---she's able to develop a spine, stand up to her bully of a father, and fall in love just by sharing in the care of the child.
Long story short--I didn't believe the romance.

But it was nice to catch up with the other residents that we've come to know. Also, the suspense plot surrounding the baddies who are out to harm the child was nicely done. Finally, Noah and Reagan get their romance moving in the right direction.

One final quibble--the whole bombshell at the end with Tyler and Katherine was so unnecessary. Sheesh!

I'm glad I visited Harmony, but I don't think I'll be back.

[Heather M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodi makes you feel like you're right there with the characters, and if you're like me, you may just wish you lived there! I'm not sure why, but I love books set in small towns. Perhaps because I grew up in one, and didn't fully appreciate that until recently. Whatever the reason, Just Down the Road, book 4 in the Harmony series is just as good as the first.

Addison is only in Harmony for one year; long enough to distance herself from her overbearing father and to give herself time to think before marrying the man that her father picked out as a good match. Tinch meets Addison at the ER when she stitches him up after a bar brawl, and shortly after they discover that they are neighbors.

**My FULL REVIEW here**

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's just as good as the rest. I'm pretty sure Jodi didn't actually model Harmony after the Panhandle town I lived in--but there's not much difference. (I think she used the town 30 miles down the road from the one where we lived.) (Delbert & Patsy who ran the funeral home didn't live upstairs and were happily married for years and years...and their grandson and grandson-in-law are taking over for them. There's no upstairs to the funeral home, now I think on it...)

Anyway, this is the one where Reagan's uncle dies and she has to go on without him. There's a doctor running away from her family, and a rancher with no family to run from or to, and a little boy who needs somebody to give him a family. And it's all another wonderful Jodi Thomas Harmony, Texas tale.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tinch: widow, loner, bar-fighter, rancher, and new uncle
Addison: doctor, loner, in town for 1 year

Raegan, Noah, and Brandon get a lot of pages in this one. Noah has not been there for Reagan a few times lately but Biggs always seems to step up and be there for her. Relationships are defined in this story.

Ty and Catherine get some time also and seem to be on the right track.

after patching Tinch up, Addison drives him home since he is her only neighbor. Tinch's deceased wife's sister dies and leaves her only son to him.Now, Tinch has gone from ALONE to the care taker of his lovely neighbor and a young boy who is in more trouble than anyone realizes. Tinch will have to open his heart enough to not break Addisons or his new son.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this story. I don't usually read this type of book and don't live in a rural area, but could relate to the characters and found that I like them and cared about them. She writes well and I could almost see and smell the dust in the air and feel the cars hitting the ruts in the dirt roads. Other than the totally unrealistic dialog for the 4 year old child (no four year old is that articulate or insightful - must less one raised by a neglectful drug-addled junky), the characters were well drawn and contemporary. The story moved along and it was an easy 1 day read. Sex was mentioned but not graphic, seemed like a relatively tame book.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodi Thomas returns to Harmony, Texas with the story of Tinch and Addison. Tinch lost his wife to cancer and since then has been a shell of a man. After a bar-room brawl he is taken to hospital to be stitched up where he meets Addison, a doctor who has escaped to Texas to get away from her demanding father.

This series is about home and family. It's about finding love and a place to belong. Characters reappear from book to book with updates on their story and some stories don't find a conclusion within the pages of a single book.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is on my favorite shelves now. My favorite of the series, and what a wonderful series. I love the "new" characters as much as the "returning" characters so very much. Even in getting to know them in one book it seems the characters were so developed and engaging. This is a fantastic read...I just hope this one does not end the series. It is true I do love all of Jodi Thomas's books, I do....but this series ranks up there with my Virgin River Series as one of the best of all times!

[Mangala · Rating 1 out of 5]

No more 'Harmony' books for me. Trite language, predictable story line, flat, lifeless characters. Even the so called 'romantic' scenes are so wooden. Within the first couple of chapters, I could predict all the pairings and the hurdles. The mystery angle seemed too forced. Waste of time.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were too many things going on...hard to follow.

[Connie N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 in the Harmony chick-lit series

Another excellent book in this series surrounding the townsfolk of the small town of Harmony, TX. It's so comfortable to revisit since I feel like I know so many of the people there now. This time we meet Tinch Turner, a man who keeps to himself on his ranch where he gentles injured and traumatized horses. He meets the visiting doctor, a woman who is also very isolated, but she has a preconceived notion about his character, and that's not a good thing. They find themselves attracted to each other despite themselves and when they keep running into each other, their feelings are kindled. They become even more involved when they are both caught up in a situation regarding a young boy who is in danger. As always with this series, there's romance and small-town activities, culminating in an exciting action scene (with bad guys this time) which definitely caught (and kept) my attention. I can't wait to continue with this series to revisit with my "friends" again.

[UberApril · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was wrong!! Tyler had a glimpse of his HEA in book 3 but damn in book 4 my heart was bursting for his happiness!!! Such a great read. I enjoyed Addison's coming of age and her new relationship with Tinch. I can't stand his name but his love for the nephew more than makes up for the horrible designation!!!! And I need Noah to stay in town lol for my sake and Reagan's too. The book was a wild ride started with a funeral, bar fights, another funeral, birth, confirmed relationships, police stand off, dance lessons. Whew. Too much going on in a little country town.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenges: RRRC September 2019 (belated) - Cannot put down (5); and, Steeped in Books/Stacking the Series - Level 6a/Book 4. This series has everything - romance with just the right amount of spice with a bit of a thriller built into each plot. Every chapter is a gem centered around the life of characters that the reader grows to love. Family and community building are at the heart of this series such that we want to look at what is 'just down the road' in the next book.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. I was wondering when the wandering rodeo junkie was going to recognize the jewel he was constantly leaving at home. I was sort of hoping Reagan would become romantically connected to "Biggs." The drama involving the abused child, Jamie, wouldn't allow me to turn off the audio book. I'm really loving this series.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course again I start in the middle of a series!!! But I loved this book and can't wait to read the books before this and the ones after. This was a wonderful story of standing up for ones self and not following a path that someone else wants you to. About finding love again and moving forward from a tragic past.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well written. I read a lot of romance novels, both historical and contemporary and so many contain just the worn and repetitive tales with no depth. This book had a story beyond the romance and that sets it far above the typical read, gives the romance a proper setting and context. I am a fan and will be reading a lot more of Ms Thomas’s books in the future.

[Anavon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. When I began reading it, I didn't realize it was part of a series. It stands alone very well but also leaves you with wanting more. I would encourage other readers to start at the beginning of the series.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The town of Harmony continues to delight with this 4th book. A ever expanding but intertwined cast of characters fill these stories. The different age groups are equally rendered and the details of life well explained.