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Texas Twins #3

Carbon Copy Cowboy

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An injured woman in a wedding veil on Jack Colby's ranch property? Jack has no idea who she is—and neither does she. "Kendra" doesn't know her name, what the veil is all about or where she belongs. And since Jack's entire life changed with the unwelcome discovery of a twin brother, he's not in the mood for secrets or surprises. Like finding out that Kendra might be spoken for. Yet even as she helps him open his heart to his family, he finds himself praying for the opportunity to make new memories.

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 21, 2012

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About the author

Arlene James

214 books88 followers
Arlene James has written romance for four decades, and has published 100+ novels. A mother of sons and now a happy grandmother to the brightest, most talented, and lovely of all granddaughters, she is finding her sixth decade to be great fun.

She and her very supportive husband of 45 years (whom she agreed to marry on their first date!) enjoy a busy social life and have visited much of the world. After calling Texas home for three decades, they now live in beautiful NW Arkansas.

Arlene grew up on a ranch in south central Oklahoma and still maintains strong ties in that area. She firmly believes that writing has afforded her the best of all possible means of earning a living, and credits a junior high school English teacher with proving to her that her dream of being an author was entirely achievable.

After 4 decades of deadlines and multiple-book contracts (for which she is deeply grateful), she is enjoying the ability to write exactly what she feels led to write on her own schedule.

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5 stars
153 (40%)
4 stars
127 (33%)
3 stars
80 (21%)
2 stars
10 (2%)
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4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Carole.
54 reviews2 followers
July 23, 2012
Can't wait to find out Grayson's story next time and to find out if their mother wakes up out of the coma and if they find their father alive and well. This is a really good series so far. Good story-telling by the author.
Profile Image for Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls).
2,157 reviews5,102 followers
February 29, 2020
This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads.


3/18/2013-
“Cute story.”

2/7/2020-
Mentioned in a recent video that I would be unhauling this series after rereading it.


*Main Content-
Kisses.
Profile Image for Emily.
441 reviews63 followers
September 3, 2021
3.5 stars. The writing was much more engaging, loved the plot and Kendra was a fantastic character. I still wasn’t huge on Jack. And there were a few moments that were a bit too cliche. But a nice, quick read that keeps your attention, for sure!
Profile Image for Anna Marie.
1,389 reviews2 followers
March 25, 2022
It took some doing to get #3 in this book series. I had to drive two counties to procure a copy! But I'd been intrigued by the idea of Arlene James - whose writing seems to be far more thoughtful, spiritual, fleshed-out, and endearing - joining up with four other writers to tell the unbelievable tale of a family (Mostly comprised of TWO sets of grown twins), separated under mysterious circumstances and trying to piece the past together.

In a recap, Marta Perry was given the dubious honor of introducing the world in which all of this happens, giving her sister authors Grassland and Colby Ranch, not to mention providing an array of secondary threads and characters to build on... all while covering the story of the first twin (Violet) that finds her happily ever after.

Then came Barbara McMahon with the second installment of the story, this time giving Maddie the spotlight. THAT was a wreck that can completely be skipped without the reader missing a single thing. She didn't build on a single one of the threads Marta set up, seemed to ditch all of the secondary *AND* tertiary characters, all while writing a lackluster tale that was so rife with errors I wanted to bang my head against a wall.

But I knew that Arlene James was next... and she did NOT disappoint!

In this story, Arlene drew the 'short stick', and found herself having to write about the irrationally hot-headed, unreasonable, anti-social Jack. Not an easy task, since up until now the other authors all but passed him off as a walking temper tantrum. Yet Ms. James took the challenge up and handled it with grace and patience, weaving a warm tale that slowly softened the man's tempestuous heart in increments, addressing his frustration with the unknown by inserting an amnesiac into his life. If Jack was struggling with not knowing his past... imagine how someone with NO past would put his blessings into perspective and soften his heart?

The writing was solid, the description well done, and as always, Ms. James did her research. The spirituality here was FAR richer and deeper than in the last two books, as well, which made my heart sing. There was a gentleness about this book that the other two didn't have - that I had been anticipating. I wasn't let down. Some people call it boring, I call it 'weaving' a story. Crafting a tale. Skillfully drawing people into a different world.

The thing that bought a star here was the other writers' presence. It was ALL THROUGH this story, permeating the thing from between the lines. It's like being at a meeting in which the loudest voices are running the show, not the wiser voices... and while the author is quiet and far more honed in her craft as a storyteller, she was completely out-voted. This was actually happening from behind the scenes of the story... and that detracts, lemme tell you.

I could all but HEAR the discussions about how the story was decided to go, and that Ms. James didn't have the final say in it - and that it WASN'T her choice. It was all but audible, that she didn't want to send them on a goose chase to find Brian (A-GAIN)... but that was what had been decided. She didn't want to have ANOTHER fruitless trip to Fort Worth, either, and it came thru in her writing that she'd been strong-armed by the collective. Both were stupid, so I'm completely with her in that.

I was also NOT okay with them shoving Landon out of the picture, and not covering any of the loose threads from the first book in this one, either - but I don't believe that was Ms. James' choice, either. She wanted to write about things - even mentioned the produce market, this time. I could tell she wanted to do more with Sadie, too. Sadly, she was constrained.

How do I know? Her footnote. While the others have gushed about the opportunity to participate in this project? Arlene James said, "The Spirit intercedes when we find ourselves beyond words". That we can say "Thy will be done" when we find ourselves in "tricky situations". In other words, she was asked to participate, but when she got involved, it was NOT what she hoped. Or even wanted to do. But with this footnote she assured us that she took it on with the mindset that she would let the Lord shine thru, even though it was pushing her - as a writer - into a tricky situation, and that she wasn't happy, but was without a voice... and so she let the Spirit intercede and help her thru this experience.

Interesting footnote, that.

In conclusion, this book is DEFINITELY worth reading... *IF* you start this series. It is N.O.T. a stand-alone... the women behind the curtain have made everything too convoluted for that - but James definitely manages to keep her writing integrity while dealing with this collaboration.
Profile Image for Barbara Campbell.
1,750 reviews34 followers
September 30, 2022
I am enjoying this series and this installment did not disappoint. Let me quickly say that these books are not overly deep and heavy.. the are lighter reads but they do delve into some heavier topics at times. And honestly, the premise of the series, as well as some of the circumstances in the individual stories, is a bit farfetched. But I am fine with that. I like a bit of escapist reading!

So the entire series is about 2 sets of twins who were separated early on in childhood. I of each being raised by their mom and 1 of each being raised by their dad. And they knew nothing about each other.. had no idea they were twins or that their other parent was alive. Tragedy (their mom is in a coma from an accident) leads to their discovery of each other and all the questions that arise as a result. Dad is also MIA. In this particular book, we add in a new character who has amnesia. So yeah.. a bit farfetched indeed!

But the characters are fun.. seeing how the various authors approach the situation and present the characters is interesting. I will definitely read the remaining books (there are 6 in all.. this is book 3) just to see how it all comes together.
844 reviews
October 28, 2024
2 books

I couldn't give a review until I read both books. There was no indication at the beginning that there would be 2 books. The first one left lots of issues unresolved so I guess we will have to get the next in the series. The second book was short and unrelated to the first book

Profile Image for Olivia.
41 reviews
June 15, 2023
Two kisses!!!!!!!!!!! Too much praying and God for my personal tastes but I'm sure plenty of people enjoyed that. The progression of their relationship was annoying but I feel like that's also typical.
Profile Image for Chrissy.
768 reviews1 follower
December 20, 2019
It was so good! I'm excited to read Grayson's story next :)
Profile Image for Jan.
751 reviews23 followers
March 1, 2021
I loved this book. It held my interest till the end. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Paula-O.
558 reviews
October 30, 2012
Love inspired Texas Twins series by Arlene James "Carbon Copy Cowboy"

Jack Colby is riding his ranch deep in thought because he has learned recently that he has a twin brother (an identical one) that he never knew existed. this news was on top of his sister meeting a young woman who they now knew was her twin sister. So many changes and so many questions with no answers...
It is at this moment he sees a little red car driving so fast towards a bad curve in the road and he prays for the person inside, please slow down you will never make that curve in the road-he then races his horse over the land towards the highway hoping he can get there in time to help. He finds a young woman inside wearing jeans and a wedding veil. When she comes to she does not know who she is or why she is in the car driving so fast or where she is going. She is so beautiful and Jack seems to feel deep down he must help her.
She is rushed to the hospital and even after a stay of a few weeks and getting better in the physical sense , she still doesnt have a memory of her life and at the time to leave the hospital Jack brings her home to his ranch hoping she will get her memory with rest and relaxation. Jack thinks his sisters will be helpful also, or at least this is what he tells himself, as he just has a "gut feeling" that he needs to be around this beautiful young woman.
He is also working through a part of his life with anger at himself thinking he caused his Mom to have a fall from her horse because they had words shortly before she took a fall that resulted in a head injury that put her in a coma where she lay for 6 months. He had been so angry that she couldn't or wouldn't answer his questions about an absent father...
You will love to read this story by Arlene and find out some answers as Jack meets his twin and learns to love the sister that has shown up who is his sisters twin also..two sets of twins...an absent father and Mom in a coma not able to shed any light.
Profile Image for Judy.
3,275 reviews
November 4, 2012
Carbon Copy Cowboy by Arlene James
Texas Twins Series Book 3
Jack Colby was never quite satisfied that he didn’t know more of his past. Who was his father? Did he have other relatives? But his mom, Belle, refused to answer. On the final day he asked they argued and she took off on her horse, ended up being thrown and has been in a coma ever since. Jack has carried the guilt and blame for that day. Refusing to look for the past didn’t work when his new sister showed up and he found out about his twin brother. The last thing he needed was the beautiful blonde who was in a car wreck with no money, nowhere to go and no memories of who she is or where she came from.

"Kendra" as she was named by a young girl in the hospital, was frustrated not remembering but she knew she had faith and also that she wanted to help Jack find peace in his life. Only the moody handsome cowboy just became more distressed with each failure to find information. Worse yet she was falling for him and knew she couldn't, not without knowing who might be out there waiting for her to come home. A fiance or worse yet….a husband.

In this third book of the series we still have a missing father and a comatose mother. Jack seems to take on all the anger and guilt for everyone along with feeling inadequate every time he hears about his twin brother, Grayson the undercover cop. Not to mention some mystery person leaving Bibles with each twin and a mysterious note along with them. The fourth book, Look Alike Lawmen, introduces us to Grayson and maybe more answers to their past. A really enjoyable series that makes it hard to put the book down.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...#
2,323 reviews38 followers
September 9, 2012
4 STARS

Texas Twin book 3

This is third book in the series and so far have liked them all but I want some answers for them soon.
This is a clean read. It is Love Inspire so thier is mention of prayer, scripture that is part of story.
Jack Colby was out riding fence on his ranch when he saw a car speeding too fast for that road. Sure enough he saw the crash. When Jack made it to the car he saw it was a stranger wearing a wedding veil and jeans.
She woke up in the local hospital with no identy,no purse, luggage, license plate and no memory of who she is.
Jack is worried about where she will end up staying. He was thinking of calling the preacher but realized he would usually call his family. They have a big house on the ranch.
Thier family is in a mess of confusion. A couple of months ago it was just him, his younger sister and his mother. Now his mother is in a coma, he found out his little sister has a twin and he has a twin he has never met and a father who is missing.
Jack brings Kendra to the ranch. A little girl in the hospital named her.
Kendra finds that she loves being on the ranch and knows a lot about animals and how to take care of them.
The family still does not know how come they were split up and why thier mom changed thier names and kept all this information from them.
Jack blames the fight he had with his mother about where they came from when her horse threw her off and she has been in the coma since.
8/21/2012 Harlequin Harlequin love Inspired
Profile Image for Kate.
1,928 reviews75 followers
March 2, 2020
I thought this book was a bit stronger with the faith message than 'standard' Love Inspired tend to be. I liked how both Jack and 'Kendra' would have scripture passages come to mind to help them in the difficult circumstances they were facing.
I also liked the character of Kendra. Even though she literally could not remember a thing about herself (including her name!) from before the accident, she tried her best to be encouraging and upbeat, and was grateful and helpful to the Colby/Wallace family for letting her stay on the ranch.
Jack . . . ahh, Jack . . . he was a Grumpy Gus for about 95% of the book, and that bugged me. However, he does eventually get some sense and seems to be turning his attitude around, so I have hope he'll be a nicer person to read about in the forthcoming books in the series.
Speaking of the series, I feel like we really didn't get much to go on with regards to why the family split in this instalment, but I do feel like there's some kind of additional side? story that's going on with Sadie, the shy church secretary. I think it will be interesting to see what happens with the family division subplot, and to see if the 'Sadie story' amounts to anything.
3.5 stars
Profile Image for Rachel Sides.
677 reviews6 followers
August 23, 2012
Carbon Copy Cowboy by Arlene James is the third book in Harlequin's Love Inspired series Texas Twins. The three star rating doesn't do justice to Arlene James. It isn't her fault that I don't care for Jack Colby who sulked through the first two titles in the series. She kept his character consistent with the other titles; though in this one, we get inside his head. There is a scene in the barn that isn't very believable, but this is fiction. Arlene James' Chatam House series and Eden, OK series are both excellent reads.
Profile Image for Sharon.
75 reviews
August 4, 2012
Jack is a courageous man, helping an accident victim near his ranch. But are 'Kendara's" good looks enough to caputre his heart when she can't even remember who she is after her accident? And why does she know so much about ranch animals? Why is she pushing him to learn more about his own family and not saying much about hers? Will Jack ever find the answers to his questions, and will he let God help? I am really enjoying this series and looking forward to the next several books!
1,382 reviews13 followers
September 9, 2012
With short story: When Night Falls by Margaret Daley
Jack witnesses a car accident and saves the woman who is wearing a bridal veil. When she wakes up in the hospital she remembers nothing. So the Texas Twin takes her home to the ranch to recover and waits patiently for her to regain her memory, while the family is still searching for clues as to why their family was broken in two so many years ago.
252 pages
Profile Image for Melinda.
66 reviews
June 25, 2016
I don't dare try to write a review because it would probably give away some of the other books before this. I have so enjoyed reading this series and even though this is a 6 book series I am quickly coming to an end and I am not wanting to loose my friendship with these characters yet. I do know it is not reality to have a relationship with these people but it feels as though they are real if the authors portray they well. You become involved.
Profile Image for Kelli.
76 reviews3 followers
July 22, 2016
This was a sweet story. I liked how even though Kendra had amnesia and had no idea who she was, where she came from, etc. she was still trying to help others more than her. I liked Jack and his protectiveness over Kendra even through his own hardships. I really want to see what happens next though.. Who is Jack and Gray's real father? Will Belle wake from her coma??
Profile Image for Kim Blanchard.
60 reviews1 follower
November 8, 2012


Read this 3rd book to the Texas twins series in one day... Once I started reading I couldn't put the book down I started reading it at around 4:30 in the afternoon and finished up around midnight after taking a few breaks to keep from getting a headache from reading so much lol
Profile Image for Emily Higgins.
1,923 reviews6 followers
January 11, 2013
This is one book in a series, so you have unsolved family problems that carry forward from the last book. Unfortunately, most of those problems remain unsolved at the end of the book. The book is very slow-paced.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,811 reviews1 follower
August 29, 2015
the continuing saga of the two sets of twins... Jack Colby is trying to find out about his family and Kendra lost her memory in an auto accident. can the toe help each other find out what they need? This one was slower than the first two.
Profile Image for Rita.
87 reviews
October 21, 2012
I think it was a great book,with the unexpected surprise of having my birth place and town mentioned in the story,it was cool.....
Profile Image for June.
1,542 reviews17 followers
September 6, 2012
Another great addition to the series. Loved it.
Profile Image for Gretchen.
66 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2015
I dared myself to read it, and yes, it really is as bad as it sounds. But I got some good laughs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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