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One Texas Night

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New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas lassos the heart of Texas with these four spellbinding stories, available together for the first time, where love shows up unexpectedly…

"Amarillo By Morning" - Hank Harris wasn’t even looking for a woman when he ended up with a wife. Aggie is exactly who he needs as a business partner—if only she weren’t so damn beautiful, spirited—and in his bed…

"Silent Partner" - Rowdy Darnell was born to be wild and Laurel Hayes knows she shouldn’t get involved with him—but oh, how he can kiss…

"The Ranger's Angel" - When Annalane Barkley whispers her dreams to Wynn McCord, the Texas Ranger knows he’s found a woman worth fighting for…

"The Outlaw" - If Cozette Camanez’s groom doesn’t show up for their wedding by dawn, she’ll lose her family ranch. Trouble is, the groom doesn’t exist—until unsuspecting thief Michael Hughes comes along…

376 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

83 people are currently reading
385 people want to read

About the author

Jodi Thomas

128 books2,500 followers
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.

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5 stars
234 (45%)
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168 (32%)
3 stars
93 (18%)
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10 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Donna.
180 reviews
June 24, 2013
Reprint of stories that were only available in 4 different anthologies.
I had read them all before, but loved reading them again.
'Amarillo by Morning' is my favorite!
Profile Image for Jenna.
2,010 reviews21 followers
October 20, 2019
i prefer her historical romances to her contemporary ones.

this book had 4 seperate short stories that were only unified by the fact that they take place in texas.

a little corny but that was fine b/c i thought they were very sweet stories of 2 strangers falling in love.



Profile Image for Suzy Vero.
466 reviews17 followers
October 7, 2024
One Night in Texas by Jodi Thomas (2013) are four delightful short stories previously published in other anthologies … sooo good!! Her wildly popular Western HRs which have sold millions are known for being sweet, and heartwarming. There’s plenty of kissing and desire in these short stories.

There’s a wide variety of good at heart people including a rancher, outlaw, rodeo rider, a very beautiful young woman who’s family is trying to get her married, a nurse, and one who’s pregnant.

First story is called Amarillo by Morning… one of my favorite George Strait songs… you can feel Texas in these superb stories like in his music.

All are totally engaging with a plot that adds adventure and drama … perfect for 100 page stories. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Linda.
1,637 reviews
May 23, 2014
This book contains four of the most romantic and sweet short stories I have ever read. I expect this kind of wonderful stories from Jodi Thomas and I was not disappointed.

The first story was about a very smart and beautiful youngest daughter of a man who had five daughters. He loved Aggie the best and the other sisters were very jealous but a day came when Aggie's father decided to remarry and that meant that she had to find a husband of her own. The father sent her to visit each of the sisters in hopes that one of them would find Aggie a perfect match. Unfortunately, they were not looking for a perfect match, just someone available who would take her off their hands. It was at a sister's house that she met Hank who was not really looking for a wife and she was not really looking for a husband. The sister had invited three men to come to dinner to meet Aggie but Hank had really only come for the free meal. Hank and Aggie decided that they could form a partnership where she could work as a gunsmith which her father had taught her and he could do whatever it was that he did only they were be married. Due to complications, Aggie had to take care of Hank and get him back on his feet again and that is where the blossom of love began. Wonderful story and easy read.

The second story was also about a partnership between an rodeo rider and a lady. She was the oldest daughter but his father had two younger daughters by his second wife who between them had half a brain. Laurel was only needed by her father to do his books as he had sent her to school for that very purpose since he did not think she was attractive enough to find a husband on her own. He took it upon himself to promise her to a banker twenty years older who really just wanted a wife to work in his bank for him. Their plan was that she would work for both of them and keep house but no one asked Laurel what she wanted or if she wanted to marry the banker. She devised a plan that would get her away from both these men and take her to a big city where she could work in a bank but this time for herself. Laurel made a deal with the rodeo rider that she would help him financially enter all the events for the rodeo if, when he won, she would get enough money to leave town. He was only in town to sell his father's property after the father's death so this sounded good to Rowdy. Again, fate stepped in and because they cared enough for the other to help out, they found love that neither one of them thought was available. Great story.

The third story was about a sister who had a very selfish brother who only cared about himself and his importance in life. He had persuaded his sister to come to a Fort inside Indian territory to set up a doctor's office for him since he was just too busy to do it himself. She had been a nurse during the war and had seen death up close and personal. Unfortunately, her stage was attacked by outlaws looking for a very important letter that the stage was carrying. Through many different ups and downs, she was rescued by a Texas Ranger who she confided her truest dreams to. In the end, they found each other after she had to nurse him back after being shot protecting her. True love always comes through.

The fourth story is about a young lady who had been compromised by someone against her will who was hired by her Uncle and now she was pregnant. The uncle wanted her share of the family ranch and the only way he could get it was to have his brother will everything to the daughter's husband. He knew no one would have her and then the money and ranch would be his. While in the Chapel praying to die, she met an outlaw who, with his uncles, had come to rob everyone. When he would not kill her, she made him a offer that if he would marry her, she would get him and his uncles off from the botched robbery, since the uncles had already been caught. Having a husband to inherit her property was a chance to take but he promised that after the Uncle had left, he would deed the property back to her. Again, while they were trying to take care of each other, they found each other. Another great story.
Profile Image for Elaine.
1,059 reviews14 followers
April 21, 2013
I don't normally enjoy short stories, but Jodi managed to have four interesting and complete stories that didn't seem to be lacking anything.

1.Amarillo by Morning
2.Silent Partner
3.The Outlaw
4.The Rangers's Angel
700 reviews7 followers
November 8, 2019
Good storjes

I loved the characters a d the stories. However I would rather they finishing the happily ever after rather than go further into old age. It certainly puts a damper on things!
7 reviews
December 28, 2023
Love makes a difference.

I love the stories. They are real without too much sex. Love the men and strong women. Thank you Jodi Thomas.
Profile Image for Jayne.
125 reviews1 follower
November 30, 2024
Wishing for more

Each short story was very good. But, I wanted more of the story. Each short story should have been made into a whole book.
304 reviews
January 28, 2025
Great Book

This book has four stories and I highly recommend the author. Jodi Thomas has become one of my favorite authors.
356 reviews1 follower
February 17, 2025
Fabulous Read

All the short stories were a great read. Wish she would write more stories like these. Love it when she finishes them with an epilogue.
Profile Image for Alicia.
160 reviews4 followers
May 21, 2021
Amarillo By Morning: First, I couldn’t the tune of the song by the same name out of my head.As for the story it was okay. I liked the time it was set in. I liked Hank but not the biggest fan of Aggie. And, it drove me insane, that she called him Dear. It just sounded wrong & out of place & just threw me off. That endearment is something I imagine coming from a “old” married couple or an older lady who calls everyone ‘dear’ and even then not every single time they are addressing someone. It also felt rushed but I guess that is to be expected with short story/novella.

Silent Partner: Much better than the first story. I was drawn in by the characters and rodeo. Wished it could have lasted and been more in-depth but I did like that it included an Afterword.

The Outlaw: Not bad. Liked the idea for the storyline. I’m always a little annoyed at stories where they “fall in love” so quick. Like, you only knew them for two days, you are not in ‘in love’. So that was a little off putting but that’s just me...

The Rangers Angel: This one was my favorite. I would have loved this story as a full length novel. The plot was good, I liked the characters..As with every novella, they have to do things quickly so, as mentioned above, I can’t stand the ‘falling in love’ After only a few days but that aside I really liked this story.
3,940 reviews21 followers
June 7, 2019
Of the four stories included, I'd only read one before: THE OUTLAW. Probably the main disappointment of this collection is that each story has been taken from an anthology/omnibus from recent years: 2008, 2009. 2010, 2011. There ARE short stories from earlier Thomas collections that are much harder-to-find; it would have been great to see some of her 1990's work.

One thing I do enjoy about this collection is that each is written by Jodi Thomas. In some anthologies, the writing skills that each writer brings to bear can be very uneven.

`AMARILLO BY MORNING' - The clever way Ms. Thomas slid this very famous song line in was a hoot. Hank goes to town to sell some cattle and finds a wife along the way back.

`SILENT PARTNER' - Rowdy Darnell is trouble; he's just finished a 5-year stint in prison. He has $12 in his pocket and no prospects. Laurel Hayes has been living in another kind of prison - gilded to be sure - but she is a prisoner at home and her father's bookkeeper. She wants out.

Laurel decides to bank Rowdy to the only money she has - so he can win the rodeo and they can split the money and cattle.

`THE OUTLAW' - Cozette Camanez is a world-class liar. She has promised her wealthy father, who is dying of consumption, that her intended is on his way to marry her. To make sure she marries, he gives the rancho (in his will) to her husband as soon as they marry.

The problem is that Cozette is missing the groom for this lovely plan. Her ruthless Uncle Raymond is waiting for her to fail - he's the alternate heir.

`THE RANGER'S ANGEL' - The Texas Ranger Wynn McCord has been following the trail of some cutthroats and Randolph Thorn. He comes across a stagecoach stopped at a station, containing a single woman and several men.

Annalane Barkley has spent most of her adult life in military hospitals and on battlefields during the Civil War. She doesn't take guff! McCord knows the way station is about to be attacked and should go for help; Annalane talks him into letting her accompany him.

Overall: 4.5 stars
554 reviews
January 16, 2014
One Texas Night: Amarillo by Morning/ Silent Partner/ The Outlaw/ The Ranger's Angel by Jodi Thomas.

AMARILLO BY MORNING: Hank Harris Accepts a dinner invitation looking forward to a free home cooked meal. He doesn't believe he has a chance to attract the unmarried woman sister of the cook. The competition is pretty stiff a banker and a railroad man.
Agnes "Aggie" had helped her father doing gunsmith work in his shop. Now he wants to remarry and Aggie is being sent from one sister to the other trying to marry her off.

SILENT PARTNER: Rowdy Darnell was sent to prison for a crime he didn't do at 15, now 5 years later he's back looking to sell the family ranch and move on.
Laurel Hayes knows he was given a raw deal, and has been praying for him for years.

THE RANGER'S ANGEL: Annalane "Anna" Barkley is on a stage traveling to meet her inconsiderate brother. Outlaws attack the stage.
Wynn McCord, the Texas Ranger saves her and they start walking towards the Fort where her brother is the new doctor.

THE OUTLAW: If Cozette Camanez’s groom doesn't show up for their wedding by dawn, she’ll lose her family ranch. Trouble is, the groom doesn't exist
Michael Hughes comes along a thief with three bumbling uncles. They marry and things are still up in the air because her uncle is trying to steal the ranch.
326 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2015
These were excellent stories! And well crafted for being so short. The only one I didn't like was The Outlaw. Every character was unbelievable and the historical setting seemed fake somehow.

Amarillo by Morning was my favorite. Loved when Hank gave her his guns and then she wore them for most of the rest of the story. And him putting a stool in every room so she could reach to kiss him was adorable!

In Silent Partner the H/h had known each other as children which makes very short romances more believable. They both got sent away - him to prison for something he didn't do and her to a terrible boarding school - and then reunite as young adults. There is a great story waiting to be written about their lives after they get married and as they build their ranch!

The Ranger's Angel reminded me of other stories about what nurses faced during the Civil War (and napoleonic wars) and on the frontier. I liked how he pushed her and she pushed back. The scene of her getting ready to escape the outlaws - changing her shoes and braiding her hair - was great and it was a telling moment when he noticed.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
Author 16 books18 followers
April 21, 2013
Readers be aware: One Texas Night is a compilation of four previously published novellas. If you have read Give Me a Texas Outlaw, Give Me a Texan, Give Me a Cowboy, and Give Me a Texas Ranger, then you've read all four stories. The blurb does not make that clear. The unfortunate implication of the omisson is that the publisher intends to mislead Ms. Thomas' core readership, which may do more harm than good to marketing efforts.

That said, the four stories in this volume were the best of the stories in the previously published books. Jodi Thomas' characters always leap off the page, and her voice is always strong and clear. The stories were as delightful on the second read as they were on the first -- but I did not need to buy this book to read them again.

The star rating reflects the quality of Ms. Thomas' work, not the associated marketing practices. Had I been rating those, the deception would have provoked a single star, if that.
Profile Image for Dobby.
562 reviews34 followers
April 25, 2016
One Texas Night is an anthology of 4 previously published short stories: "Amarillo by Morning," "Silent Partner," "The Outlaw," and "The Ranger's Angel." Each is set in Texas, from mid- to late-1800s. Each is a snapshot, a complete story in itself, with enough substance that the characters are real and vibrant.

It's hard to pick a favorite, but "Amarillo by Morning" is a story I enjoy each time I read it. Of course, the uncles in "The Outlaw" leave me laughing and feeling just a wee bit better about my own oddball family. The partnership formed in "Silent Partner" warmed my heart in the way it turned into something more. And "The Ranger's Angel" smiled on a lonely Texas Ranger and gave him something to live for. I guess I could say my favorite is the one I'm reading at the time. Jodi Thomas' stories warm my heart and leave me smiling, no matter how long or how short they are.
Profile Image for Sarah.
420 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2013
4.5 stars. I should start by saying that I usually do not give high marks to short stories. I almost always find they have an "imcomplete" feel to them, this book however is an exception. At right around 100 pages each, these 4 stories are well developed and feel complete and satisfylin at the end. Mrs. Thomas is truly the master of Texas fiction and if you've enjoyed any of her other books you'll love this one too. And, if you've never read anything by her, this is a good place to start. It's my understanding that these books have been previously published, but having them altoghter is a treat. Don't miss out on this one, it's really good.
Profile Image for Missy Jane.
Author 34 books326 followers
April 23, 2013
The hardest thing about reviewing a Jodi Thomas anthology is deciding which story I liked best. In fact, I just can't pick one. All four romances, set in Texas in the 1800s, were wonderful. The heroes are tough Texas men who might not be completely comfortable with love, but know better than to let the heroine get away when they find her. The heroines are all no-nonsense women who know what they need, even when they don't realize their own worth, and aren't afraid to fight for it.
Great read if you like historical romance, or even just a good western.
Profile Image for Marin Thomas.
Author 108 books671 followers
March 29, 2015
This book is a collection of previously published stories from different anthologies: Amarillo by Morning, Silent Partner, The Outlaw, and The Ranger's Angel. Even though the shorter length doesn’t allow Thomas to delve deeply into the core characters she manages to make the reader care about her heroes and heroines. As always Thomas's writing is excellent whether it's a novella or a full-length novel. She never disappoints!
Profile Image for Pat.
644 reviews7 followers
April 15, 2013
4 short stories all roll up into one book by Jodi Thomas that had been written earlier in her career.

1.Amarillo by Morning...which I had not read before.
2.Silent Partner.....which I had not read before.
3.The Outlaw which I read under the the Anthology of "Give Me a Texas Outlaw".
4.The Rangers's Angel which I had read under the Anthology of "Give Me a Texas Ranger"
66 reviews2 followers
January 12, 2015
Containing 4 short stories is always hard to make them have enough depth but this is where Jodi Thomas shines. I cared about all the characters in every story and felt there was enough background that you really wanted things to turn out well for them. I will be adding her to my read automatically pile.
Profile Image for R.
59 reviews
April 7, 2013
I always enjoy Jodi Thomas books, and this series of short stories was no exception.

It is of special note that at least three of the four stories in this book have been published before......
Profile Image for Amber Hutchison.
7 reviews
July 26, 2013
I think that this is a collection of her short stories that she has already published in the different books along with other authors. But it's too to have them all in one place
Profile Image for Edie.
188 reviews30 followers
April 7, 2013
I am not a big historical romance reader, but I do enjoy Jodi Thomas westerns.
This is an anthology of some previously published shorts, and they are all warm and sweet.
Great comfort reads.
173 reviews
May 17, 2013
Never read 3 before. I kept thinking it was a Linda Lael Miller book, which sounds terrible, but...
Profile Image for Angela Verdenius.
Author 66 books677 followers
July 31, 2013
sweet collection of historical romances set in Texas. No wild sex, no hanging from the chandeliers , the same sweet message throughout. Delightful!
Profile Image for Susan Parks.
600 reviews9 followers
October 3, 2013
The stories were pretty good, but my favorite thing was that the previous owner of the book corrected the spelling and grammar in my copy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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