Love Finds You in Groom, Texas

Deep in the Heart of Texas

by Janice A. Thompson

Always the groomsman, never the groom… It’s 1914, and Jake O’Farrell has gained an unusual reputation among the He’s played the roles of groomsman and best man in all four of his older brothers’ weddings, but he’s never been able to find the woman to capture his heart. And now with the upcoming wedding of his best friend, Jake will become the last single man in the town of Groom.

Anne Denning has made the difficult decision to move with her sisters to Texas, but a train derailment forces them to seek shelter in Groom, near Amarillo. Mrs. O’Farrell, hopeful that Anne will catch her youngest son’s eye, invites the girls to stay at her home until the train is repaired and ready to pull out. Anne has no idea of the blissful chaos that lies ahead!

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Westerns

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

See also:
Janice Hanna
Janice Thompson
Janice Hanna Thompson

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

About this book:

“Always the groomsman, never the groom…
It’s 1914, and Jake O’Farrell has gained an unusual reputation among the locals: He’s played the roles of groomsman and best man in all four of his older brothers’ weddings, but he’s never been able to find the woman to capture his heart. And now with the upcoming wedding of his best friend, Jake will become the last single man in the town of Groom.
Anne Denning has made the difficult decision to move with her sisters to Texas, but a train derailment forces them to seek shelter in Groom, near Amarillo. Mrs. O’Farrell, hopeful that Anne will catch her youngest son’s eye, invites the girls to stay at her home until the train is repaired and ready to pull out. Anne has no idea of the blissful chaos that lies ahead!”


Series: Originally part of the “Love Finds You” series, but not connected to any other book. This edition has been reprinted as “Last Groom in Town” by Janice Thompson.


Spiritual Content- Matthew 10:38-39 at the beginning; A few Scriptures are mentioned & quoted; Prayers; Church going; Many talks about God, the Bible, faiths, & praying; ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Anne struggles to hang onto her faith and that she has given up on thinking the Lord wanted to save her from pain, but she is witnessed to and encouraged by Maggie; Many mentions of God, His plan, & faiths; Mentions of prayers, praying, blessings over food, & praising God; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of churches, church going, services, sermons, a reverend, church events, & Sunday school classes; Mentions of blessings & being blessed; Mentions of Heaven (Anne isn’t sure her father is there) & Saint Peter; Mentions of miracles; Mentions of a cross necklace; Mentions of showing grace to others; A few mentions of sin; A couple mentions of hymns; A mention of baptizing; A mention of a Christian upbringing;
*Note: Emily buries her sister’s dolls so she can interview them (after digging them back up) about what it’s like coming back to life; A few mentions of someone believing that dancing is sinful; A few mentions of hell (described as “a horrible place with weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth” and when someone asks if a couple was a match made in heaven, another pops up and says that it was most likely made somewhere else); A mention of a godforsaken place.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘how the devil’, an ‘idiot’, two ‘sissy’s, two ‘what the devil’s, and three forms of ‘dumb’; Sass & Eye rolling; Mentions of stories of massacres, battles, wars, deaths, & blood; Mentions of Indian attacks & possible attacks and a scalping (in a story); Mentions of thieves, stealing/robbing, crimes, & threats; Mentions of nightmares & pain; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gambling, debts, & cheating at cards; Mentions of smoking & cigars; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & an addiction; A few mentions of gossip; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of hatred; A few mentions of slaughtering cows for food; A couple mentions of prison; A couple mentions of bullies; A mention of murder (in a story); A mention of hunting;
*Note: Mentions of car brands.


Sexual Content- A cheek kiss, a forehead kiss, hair kisses, two not-detailed kisses, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, and a semi-detailed kiss; Recalling a kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss someone; Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Nearness, & Butterflies (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Noticing (border-line not-detailed // barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of chaperones; A couple mentions of flirts & flirting; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of mooning & swooning over someone; A mention of a passionate kiss at a wedding; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of a sister popping her sister on the backside (teasing).

-Anne Denning, age 19
-Jake O’Farrell, age 22
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1914
316 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Four Stars (and a half)

This book gives me so much joy. It’s honestly adorable and very funny, the faith content and discussions are wonderful, the romance is super sweet—there’s a reason Janice Hanna (Janice Thompson) is one of my favorite authors.

It is an instant attraction romance, but honestly that doesn’t bother me at all in this novel because the second half of the book is so cute, I was smiling the entire time reading it. (I would also consider it to be quite clean in the romance elements.) I love the side characters (her sisters!) and just everything. This is my second time reading this novel and I still enjoyed it so much!



Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[SheLove2Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the cover.

One thing absolutely necessary to historical novels, regardless of genre, is accuracy. There's nothing more irritating to me, and yes I am definitely a Type A personality, than reading a book and totally losing my focus because of an authors failure to do their homework. Or assuming that the reader won't.

This book is set in 1914 rural Texas. The hero's widowed mother has a telephone in her house. Regardless of the fact that her income would most likely (and I realize that is a generalization) be reduced, why would she need one? The population of Texas in 1914 was roughly 4 million people. I did some fact checking and there were roughly 7 phones per 100 households in existence at that time. The likelihood of her having a phone, surely a near-luxury item at that time, is negligible. The book states her entire family lives very close by. Who exactly would she be calling?

Another thing that irritated me: in the beginning of the book the hero referred to the heroine as Guinevere many times, as in King Arthur. She blushed and thanked him for the compliment. Huh? How is being compared to an adulterous woman who is credited with helping bring down a kingdom and destroying a friendship a compliment?

I did enjoy the cover though.

[Emilie Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I just finish this book in less than two days? Yes Do I regret anything, however? No, absolutely not.
I may even have a new favorite romance author! (shocking 😱) Now I know nothing is better than a feel-good contemporary book. Hey, even I like those every once in awhile. But, to read a book about cowboys, much less a historical fiction book about cowboys/Wild West; that is a whole different matter entirely. These “Love Finds You” books aren’t ones I usually gravitate towards, HOWEVER, on a most recent trip to the library, I let my sister pick out a book for me to read and she picked out this one. And let me just say, Elisabeth, you have great taste 😉.

THE PLOT:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The main plot line of this book was *chefs kiss* Fabulous!!! I loved almost every aspect of it. That being said, I did not like how our main girl wore a cross necklace, claiming it would bring her closer to God. As Christians, we know that to be closer to God we have to read our Bibles and pray to Him. I felt as if, Anne were relying on this necklace for salvation, which is clearly wrong. This is such a minuscule issue that it did not ruin the whole book for me. Just wanted to make people aware of this one issue presented within this book. Overall, the lessons and themes taught in this book are highly applicable to life, as well as the morals and spiritual content.
THE CHARACTERS:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
OH MY GOODNESS! This cast of characters was definitely my favorite by far. All of the quirks and uniquities that make a person lovable were in high volume in this book. Surprisingly, my favorite character was not the main character, (Don’t pass out yet) but rather, a side character named Maggie. Maggie was an adorable human and I found myself both smiling and laughing at her antics up to the very last page. Her view of life is very optimistic, I found myself wanting to give her a hug. She makes people’s day by just being her, and people love her for it. Because of that, she quickly reached to the top of my favorites list.
I also loved Anne, and her sisters. My favorite sister, however, was Emily. She is very imaginative and smart, yet she knows when to be serious. Her character was written with such depth that it wasn’t difficult to imagine her as a living, breathing person. Best of all, she was a writer, just as I aspire to be.
Finally, I adored Jake. ❤️ He reminded me a little bit (personality wise) of Mr. Darcy. He was just a shy, yet quiet person, but he loved fiercely. He endured his brother’s teasing and eventually gave the title of “last single man in Groom” away!
Every character had a strong faith in God which inspired my faith to strengthen.
THE ROMANCE:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The romance in this book was the cutest thing I have read in a while. While it did feel a bit “insta love” like, it was still very satisfying. Unfortunately , that “insta love” trope is not one of my favorites, therefore extracting a star. I did highly appreciate that Jake gave Anne some space to sort things out. Most of the time in romance books, it feels as if the guy is pushing the girl a little too far. I did not feel like that was the case in this story, thankfully.


Overall, a solid 4 stars out of 5 from me. Thank you, Elisabeth for picking it out for me; and thank you, Lindsey for recommending this author! 😊

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Finds You in Groom, Texas is a light-hearted, engaging tale of love that encompasses not only the hero and heroine of the story, but the supporting cast as well. Jake, as the "last single man in town", and newly orphaned Anne, stranded in the town of Groom with her two young sisters after a train derailment, find themselves inextricably drawn to one another despite their circumstances. Headed for Dallas with her sisters in tow to live with an overbearing uncle, the train derailment sees 19-year-old Anne, 10-year-old budding author Emily, and shy 7-year-old Kate bundled up on a ranch with Jake's mother Maggie, a lovable mother-figure, who immediately makes them feel welcome and at home. Reluctant to continue their journey, Anne fights her growing attraction to Jake, Maggie's son, while Jake is overwhelmed by his feelings for Anne and can't bear to see her leave once the railroad is repaired. And when Jake's sisters-in-law meet Anne, they begin their own quest to pair up the lone bachelor and pretty gal from Denver. But when the girls' uncle arrives from Dallas to collect them, will they have to suddenly abandon their new haven in the Texas Panhandle? Fans of Karen Witemeyer and Mary Connealy will love the wit and charm of this down-home romance!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, the disclaimer. "I purchased a copy of this book. All opinions are my own." That done, I'm catching up a little on some of the older books that came out several years ago. Ms. Thompson is a prolific, fun, humorous romance writer and LOVE FINDS YOU IN GROOM, TEXAS is a good indication of her style.

I enjoyed reading this historical and getting to know Jake and Anne. I like the faith message that Ms. Thompson works into her stories, too. I fell in love with Anne and her two younger sisters the moment they were introduced. I also enjoyed the cute journalist entries at the beginning of each chapter.

If you are a fan of Ms. Thompson's wedding series and Hollywood series, you will love discovering her older books. Ms. Hanna is Ms. Thompson's pen-name so she truly is the same person. A fun, rollicking, laugh-out-loud read that will keep you engaged until the end.

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s 1914, and Jake O’Farrell's best friend is getting married. Which wouldn't typically be a problem but that leaves Jake as the last single man in Groom, TX. Never ones to let an opportunity to tease their younger brother go by, Jake's four older siblings are teasing him mercilessly about the fact. Throw in the fact that he's the only brother not working the ranch (he's a railroad employee) and he's beginning to feel a bit too much like the odd man out. Should he just settle down with one of the pretty local gals and quit being such a weirdo?

Anne Denning's fathers death has left her with no choice but to take her sisters to Dallas to live with a cantankerous uncle. A train derailment finds her and her sisters making a side stop in the Texas panhandle. They have no money and are unsure what to do till a kindly railroad employee takes him to the family ranch where Maggie O'Farell welcomes them like long long family. Soon Anne and her sisters find themselves feeling more at home in Groom then they have felt in years. Anne and Jake find themselves increasingly thrown in each others company and loving it. What will happen when Jake finishes fixing the rails and Anne and her sisters are forced to head to Dallas?

This is a very light hearted story with sweet characters and a simple, romance centered plot. Everything worked out a bit too easily but that is okay in something meant to be fun rather than serious. My two complaints are that the author made no use of her time period (I kept forgetting when I was) and that the hero vacillated far too much on moving forward with his feelings.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read!! I could not put it down and read it in one day. A perfect relaxing way to spend a Sunday. =)

This story is about Jake who's the last single man in Groom Texas. The whole town (including several single women) want to see him hitched!! There's not a lady in town who's caught his eye, until Annie and her two younger sisters are stranded there when the train track is damaged and their train can't go any further till it's fixed.

Annie and her younger sisters have been recently orphaned and are on their way to live with their Uncle in Dallas. As they spend a few days with Jake and his family they come to love the town of Groom and everyone in it....and for Annie, that includes Jake and Jake is more than intrigued by Annie as well!! The whole town is pulling for these two to get together, the only obstacle is Annie's Uncle...will he allow her to stay?

The characters in this story were wonderful. From Annie and her sisters to Jake's family and the girls Uncle, these characters made the story come alive. I'd love to read a story down the road about Annie's little sister Emily.

This story was a very entertaining read that I recommend to anyone who loves great Christian fiction!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read a Janice Hanna book, I'm usually assured of a few things: that she will use the story to tell of how God uses unexpected circumstances to bring blessings to people, and that it will have me giggling in several places.
This is definitely one of those stories that fits the bill on both counts. Anne's little sister Emily was especially and endearingly precocious and fun (and the way Jake's brothers teased him was fun too, once everyone understood that it was teasing, and not in earnest!).
But, the thing that really shone for me was how God used a train derailment, some new friends, and the sweetest woman (Jake's mama, Maggie) to show both Anne and Jake a new way to move forward into the future . . . a future that would be a blessing in many ways to many people.
4.5 stars

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It had some very humorous moments that I thought made the book. Loved seeing the family dynamics of the O'Farrell's and also of Anne's little sister Emily. Second to the giggling moments that I found in this book was also moments where I would tear up. A book that tugs you along like that is well worth it to me! I also really loved the pace of the story. The love between Anne and Jake grew quickly, but it didn't have a false feel to as other books do when they rush a sudden love match. There also wasn't a ton of drama and angst keeping the two potential mates from making their relationship work which is sometimes a refreshing difference in other novels.

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author also publishes under the name, Jan Thompson. I've read about a dozen of her books and they are all excellent! Lighthearted, Contemporary Christian fiction mostly... this one was Historical in that the location is real. Along with a couple of other elements, I loved learning about the facts vs. fiction. Now, I surely want to visit Groom, TX!

[Rose Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for one book to take on spring break or your summer trip, this one is definitely one you would want to bring along! A sweet love story filled with life lessons only God can teach you!

[Aimee Irvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so much enjoyed reading this book. I am a country girl at heart and just love horses, cowboys, etc... This book was hard to put down and I would recommend anyone who loves a great love story to read this book.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I was drawn in right from the beginning. Now to read another book in the "Love Finds You In" series.

[Englandjennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OHh this was truly precious. I loved the way it was written, I could almost smell the bacon sizzling after she woke up. The details made the book much more enjoyable.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighthearted historical romance set in 1914 in Texas. Christian.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Yvonne Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book a wonderful romance

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story but I wish there was more description about handsome Jake...

[Bridget Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. It was nice to have a book that centered more on the guy in the story, instead of the woman. Loved the characters and plot. A very enjoyable read.

[Anna(Mariee.Readss) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Adair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. Don't thinks I've read anything else by this author so will have to look for more by her

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book to read

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute concept but a lot of historical inaccuracies! It was difficult to concentrate on the story line because of the errors!

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUMMARY: Always the groomsman, never the groom… It’s 1914, and Jake O’Farrell has gained an unusual reputation among the locals: He’s played the roles of groomsman and best man in all four of his older brothers’ weddings, but he’s never been able to find the woman to capture his heart. And now with the upcoming wedding of his best friend, Jake will become the last single man in the town of Groom. Anne Denning has made the difficult decision to move with her sisters to Texas, but a train derailment forces them to seek shelter in Groom, near Amarillo. Mrs. O’Farrell, hopeful that Anne will catch her youngest son’s eye, invites the girls to stay at her home until the train is repaired and ready to pull out. Anne has no idea of the blissful chaos that lies ahead!

REVIEW: Filled with whimsey yet depth of feeling as well this LFY historical romance is an easy, enjoyable read. Lots of wonderful characters in this story. Anne is an admirable character who after facing several tragedies in her young life steps up to the challenge of raising her two younger sisters. Jake is a sweet, tenderhearted, faith-filled young man. Jake's mom, Maggie, is a true delight who lives life with gusto and yet has a solid foundation of faith. Anne's two sisters sweet, quiet Kate and tomboyish, outspoken Emily also add to the well rounded cast of characters in this book. Overall a great read with a whirlwind romance.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "But I made up my mind years ago that the loveliest things a woman could own were her words. They show off much nicer than a new dress."

"We don't serve a God who slaps our hands when we make mistakes. Sure, it would be ideal if we got it right all the time, but then why would we need His grace and mercy?"

"We all feel guilt for things we shouldn't and we all go through seasons when we're angry at God."

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet story. I liked it, I thought the characters were nice and the story was nice. Maybe a tad too nice. Anne was a likable character, very strong and loyal. Jake was also likable, he’s frustrated being the youngest in his family and the only single guy left, not only in his family, but in the whole town (which is a little hard to believe).

I thought the story started out well, I got sucked in and was excited to see how Anne and Jake’s story would unfold. I guess I’m a romantic (surprise, surprise) and was expecting a bit more wooing then what we got. I would have liked for Anne and Jake to spend more time together. I thought their feelings and relationship moved too quickly and yet kind of slow at the same time, if that makes sense. Their relationship was too squeaky clean for me; I would have liked more flirting and stolen kisses.

Somewhere along the way I did start to lose interest. Maybe because other storylines started to take precedence, like Anne suddenly throwing together a wedding in five days (wouldn’t Virginia have already had things planned before now???). And, at times everyone seems to be a bit too perfect. I think another issue I had was the preaching. I just got a little tired of all these different morals being thrown at me all the time. I love when characters are Christian and have good morals, but sometimes it can be over the top and in this case it was just too much for me.

Overall, I liked it. It was pleasant and Anne and Jake have a conflict-free, whirlwind (week long) courtship and everyone gets a HEA.

Content: Squeaky Clean.

[Rachel Sotomayor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book takes place in Texas in the early 1900's and is about Jake O'Farrell, the last handsome bachelor in a quaint town called Groom. All the available ladies in town are chasing after him, but to no avail. Jake just isn't looking to get married and settle down, but all of that changes when he meets Anne Denning. Stranded in Groom when her train is derailed on her way to Dallas from Denver, the O'Farrells open their home to her and her two younger sisters.


I gave this book 2 of 5 stars, not necessarily because I didn't enjoy it, but because I found it lacked depth. The characters and plot all seemed a bit shallow to me.


The book also felt a bit repetitive. Anne seemed to have the same conversation over and over again with herself and numerous other characters in the book (talking about how hard her life has been and how she is struggling to let go of her past). After the book mentioned it so many times, you start wonder if there is anything more to the character as a person. This was also true for a couple of the other main characters. By the end of it, I didn't feel like I had truly gotten to know the characters.


It was a cute story line, and an easy enjoyable read, but ultimately historically inaccurate, lacking depth, and a bit repetitive. Not to mention, for whatever reason, there was a lot of winking happening?? Apparently that is how people used to flirt because I promise every other page you will find someone winking at someone else...

[Anna Kate Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been one of my favorite comfort books for nearly a decade. I first read it when I was around 14/15 years old and I read it at least a half a dozen times in the following couple of years. The last time I read it was two years ago, a year after I had been married, and now I’m a new mom with a four month old baby girl.

What has been so cool to me is seeing how differently the book affected me in each of those different seasons of life and how who I related to in the story changed as I matured and gained new life experiences.

Being young I related to the two main characters dreaming of finding someone who would love them completely for who they are and take care of each other. Then when I found my husband and we were married I related to the young couples who were so joyful in their marriages and excited about caring for their spouse. Now as a mom I relate to the mother in the story who loves her children so unconditionally and wants them to know Christ and be lead by Him.

I think this lovely story will be one I will continue to read for many more decades as I cherish the sweet words enclosed and the fond memories attached.

[Edwina Cowgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book in the “Love Finds You in….” series is on the bookshelves. Janice Hanna’s (Thompson) “Love Finds You in Groom, Texas” hit the bookshelves earlier this month.

Set in the early 1900’s, “Love Finds You…” has characters you will enjoy getting to know, and probably one or two to whom you can relate. There is the spunky heroine, Annie, who is always determined to make the best of any situation. Jake is our charismatic hero, the kind of guy every momma hopes her daughter will meet. Speaking of mommas, Jake’s momma, Maggie, is the “momma” to the residents of Groom, Texas, cook extraordinaire and she takes in strays – humans and pets. And that’s how Annie and her sisters end up staying at O’Farrell’s Honor, the family’s ranch. Annie has two sisters, precocious, aspiring writer, Emily, and quiet, shy Kate.

Janice Hanna has once again written a delightful, light romance. Love Finds You in Groom, Tx is the book to take poolside or patio with a tall glass of lemonade for an afternoon of entertaining reading.

[Mtl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three sisters travel on a train from Colorado to Texas in 1914. They have just become orphans; their only living relative is mean Uncle Bertrand in Dallas. Anne is 19, and Emily and Kate are ten and seven, respectively. Their train stops suddenly in Groom, Texas, due to a derailment and track damage. Since it will take more than a week to repair the tracks, they are forced to stay in the community of Groom. Anne and her sisters end up at the O’Farrell Ranch; Jake O’Farrell is the last available man in Groom. His five brothers are all married; Jake lives with his mother and helps on the ranch. The whole town schemes to bring Anne and Jake together, while creative genius Emily keeps everyone entertained with her writing and her lively personality. This inspirational story of a close family living on a ranch in a small town will make one yearn to have lived in Groom, Texas.