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Cowboy Crossing #8
My Dearest Athena
Preston Harding witnessed his best friend’s death in the prime of his life. Alcohol has numbed the pain.
Until his son’s mother drops the boy off on his doorstep and tells him she is dying. Suddenly he’s responsible for a young life and is facing another death. Thankfully, hospice is taking care of everything except the child.
Athena Coleman loves her job as a hospice nurse. She also loves Preston, her big brother’s best friend, and has all of her life. But he’s too wrapped up in self-medicating with alcohol and hiding his pain from the world by doing crazy stunts that she wouldn’t have him even if he finally did notice her.
Everything changes when she’s assigned to the mother of his child and Preston sobers up to be a father to Liam.
Can they fall in love despite the death between them?
Books in the Cowboy Crossing series:
1. Best Friends in the Show Me State
2. Sold! in the Show Me State
3. A Secret Baby in the Show Me State
4. The Beast Gets His Cowgirl in the Show Me State
5. A Marriage of Convenience in the Show Me State
6. A Second Chance in the Show Me State
7. A Mistletoe Mishap in the Show Me State
8. His Best Friend’s Sister in the Show Me State
Until his son’s mother drops the boy off on his doorstep and tells him she is dying. Suddenly he’s responsible for a young life and is facing another death. Thankfully, hospice is taking care of everything except the child.
Athena Coleman loves her job as a hospice nurse. She also loves Preston, her big brother’s best friend, and has all of her life. But he’s too wrapped up in self-medicating with alcohol and hiding his pain from the world by doing crazy stunts that she wouldn’t have him even if he finally did notice her.
Everything changes when she’s assigned to the mother of his child and Preston sobers up to be a father to Liam.
Can they fall in love despite the death between them?
Books in the Cowboy Crossing series:
1. Best Friends in the Show Me State
2. Sold! in the Show Me State
3. A Secret Baby in the Show Me State
4. The Beast Gets His Cowgirl in the Show Me State
5. A Marriage of Convenience in the Show Me State
6. A Second Chance in the Show Me State
7. A Mistletoe Mishap in the Show Me State
8. His Best Friend’s Sister in the Show Me State
Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 7, 2021
I liked this story. I liked that it took us back to Cowboy Crossing. I also liked that we saw how Preston learn to overcome his grief. We saw him deal with it in a not great way but them find a better way by trusting God. I liked seeing both of the main characters having to deal with their own issues in order to be together. As they overcame certain things then they were willing to try to have a relationship.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
April 12, 2022
FREE PRIME READ.
SWEET BUT NOT VERY REALISTIC TO ME. ;D
SWEET BUT NOT VERY REALISTIC TO ME. ;D
February 3, 2021
Athena and Preston’s story is one of redemption as well as sweet romance. As her brother’s best friend, Athena and Preston have known each other for years. She has carried a torch for him since they were teenagers, but she has never been more than his friend’s younger sister to Preston. In the past decade, daredevil, easygoing Preston has become a drunk who uses alcohol to escape the pain of a friend’s tragic death. During the same time period, Athena has become a nurse specializing in hospice care. Preston last saw Athena at a funeral of one of town’s well respected citizens, and he had admired her then for her strong support and care for the grieving widow. He is beyond shocked when she shows up on his doorstep with his ex girlfriend by her side as a well as a young boy who is obviously his son. Suddenly, his home now includes hospice care for his dying ex-girlfriend as he transitions into fatherhood and she is saying farewell to their son. With the advise of a good friend, and renewed faith in God and his guidance, Preston makes a concerted effort to leave alcohol in the past and be a good father to his son. Though his encounters with Athena in the past decade have involved seeing her dissatisfaction and disappointment in his drinking and demeanour, he is now determined to show her he can be a better man. He witnesses her willingness to give more of herself than is asked, her kindness and generosity of spirit. He wants his son and himself to follow her lead and adopt the same life attitude. Preston also sets out to win her heart, not just for his son but for the man he is striving to become....a man worthy of her. Yet, Athena is under no illusions of what life can be like with an alcoholic and she is unsure about starting a relationship with a man who has just stopped drinking....no matter how much she loves him. Read this beautifully written and inspiring story to discover how their story unfolds.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
February 1, 2021
Preston found life hard to live after watching one of his best friend's fall to his death from the side of a mountain. He tried to forget the sight by drinking himself numb every night. There was only one person who might stop him, and she would not be in town to much longer if she was not already gone. Then someone was at his door demanding, he open up. Who would want to talk to him this early in the morning? Finally, he makes his way to the door to discover that his other best friend's little sister, Athena, an old girl friend of his, Joyce, and a little boy, Liam are at the door. The boy looks a lot like Preston and turns out to be his son. They are there to tell him that Joyce has an inoperable brain tumor and has less than three months to live. Preston needs to man up taking responsibility for his son and get to know him before his mother passes. Athena was Joyce's hospice nurse helping to make arrangements. Joyce and Liam move in with Preston in preparation for the end. Preston decided the day he learned about Liam that he wanted to become a better man and he did. He spent time talking to a man from the church called Deacon, learning from him. He wanted a life with Athena if possible. He just needed to prove to her that he had changed. He included her in everything he did or planned to do. It also helped that the little town of Cowboy Crossing thought they belonged together too. This was a wonderful story of Preston turning to God for help in his time of need and Deacon giving Preston advice in the beginning that did not sound like preaching. Dealt with life after death for the living in a positive manner.
February 26, 2021
His Best Friend’s Sister in the Show Me State by Jessie Gussman (5 stars)
One of Jessie Gussman’s trademarks is that the preceding book in a series has an epilogue that introduces the next book’s main character(s). I will be blunt, after reading the epilogue and having been introduced to a Preston in the preceding book, I was NOT eager to read this book.
Alcoholism and recovering from alcoholism are just such difficult hurdles and I’m not sure that I want quite that much reality in my romance novels.
I have to admit that in a matter of just a few chapters, through, I was hooked. The alcoholism is touched on, but Ms. Gussman has Preston deal with the underlying issue and the reason he wanted to lose himself in alcohol in the first place. And it’s a really compelling reason.
She has her character grow and finally cope with his debilitating grief. There are some truly wise moments where she discusses (through Preston and his minister, Deacon) why bad things happen and why God allows them to happen and what does God want us to learn from trials. It’s touching and profound.
Let’s not forget that, first and foremost, this is a romance-and it delivers!
Athena, the female protagonist, is pretty sharp-tongued to Preston when he’s drunk, but once he quits, she stops that behavior. Her issues lie more in wondering if she can trust Preston not to go back to alcohol and hence break her heart.
Both characters are wonderful people and very likable.
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special
One of Jessie Gussman’s trademarks is that the preceding book in a series has an epilogue that introduces the next book’s main character(s). I will be blunt, after reading the epilogue and having been introduced to a Preston in the preceding book, I was NOT eager to read this book.
Alcoholism and recovering from alcoholism are just such difficult hurdles and I’m not sure that I want quite that much reality in my romance novels.
I have to admit that in a matter of just a few chapters, through, I was hooked. The alcoholism is touched on, but Ms. Gussman has Preston deal with the underlying issue and the reason he wanted to lose himself in alcohol in the first place. And it’s a really compelling reason.
She has her character grow and finally cope with his debilitating grief. There are some truly wise moments where she discusses (through Preston and his minister, Deacon) why bad things happen and why God allows them to happen and what does God want us to learn from trials. It’s touching and profound.
Let’s not forget that, first and foremost, this is a romance-and it delivers!
Athena, the female protagonist, is pretty sharp-tongued to Preston when he’s drunk, but once he quits, she stops that behavior. Her issues lie more in wondering if she can trust Preston not to go back to alcohol and hence break her heart.
Both characters are wonderful people and very likable.
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special
February 26, 2021
His Best Friend's Sister In The Show Me State is a book of taking chances. Preston had grew up with his best two friends doing wild and dangerous things till one of their wall climbing stunts caused one of the friends to fall to his death. Preston took it hard and found relief in the bottom of a bottle. As fate has it one day he is dog drunk and has company to come see him. His past had caught up to him. On the porch was his best friend Andrew's sister Athena along with a fling he had several years ago Joyce and a boy named Liam. Athena is a hospice nurse and she has brought her new patient Joyce to tell Preston that he had a son and she was dying from a brain tumor. It was time he left the bottle behind and step up to the plate to be a productive citizen and a father. As luck would have it Athena has loved Preston since they were young and Preston had always wanted Athena but felt she did not like him much with his years of being a drunk. While Preston allowed Joyce to be cared for in his home so he could get to know Liam, he got the best advice he could have ever received. Take everything hard you go through and make it a learning experience. As Athena cares for Joyce and is around Preston they start having feelings for each other but she fears him falling back into the bottle. Once he puts his mind to being a father he becomes the person Athena enjoyed being around in school. They both decided it was time to take a big chance leaving fear behind and get married and make a home for Liam to grew up happy in.
February 2, 2021
Preston is haunted by the death of a close friend and has taken to drinking to numb the pain. But when Athena, a girl he cared about in high school but never felt good enough for shows up on his doorstep with the son he never knew he had and informs him that the boy's mother is dying and Preston needs to take responsibility, he realises that it's time to get his act together. Athena had a crush on Preston in high school, but he never seemed to notice her, and his self-destructive ways in recent years have hurt her badly. As they work together to settle Liam and care for his mother, will Preston be able to overcome the past enough to form a future?
A touching story with good messages and characters to care about. I haven't actually read previous books in the series yet, but I'm eager to do so, not because I felt like I was missing anything with this book, but because I enjoyed spending time in Cowboy Crossing and I'd like to get to know more of the inhabitants! This book touches on some difficult topics in a Christian and caring way, but also has some fun amid the serious bits, and I really enjoyed it. A good book - recommended.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
A touching story with good messages and characters to care about. I haven't actually read previous books in the series yet, but I'm eager to do so, not because I felt like I was missing anything with this book, but because I enjoyed spending time in Cowboy Crossing and I'd like to get to know more of the inhabitants! This book touches on some difficult topics in a Christian and caring way, but also has some fun amid the serious bits, and I really enjoyed it. A good book - recommended.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
February 2, 2021
One morning, his “friend” Athena showed up on his doorstep with a young boy. At first sight, Preston realized that the boy is his son, which changed everything. Before, nothing could take him away from the bottle for a decade, being a father was the wake-up call he had needed to take charge of his life again and make the necessary changes…
In a discussion with Athena, Preston talked about his alcoholism and acknowledged that it was his choice to relive his best friend’s accident and death. Though I am absolutely behind the principle that we have a personal choice in how we handle situations, I would not go that far that one has control over all one’s emotions, at least not at the very beginning. However, I admire that a person, even a book character, who has let life get away, got a grip on his actions, realized that each person has the possibility to learn something from any given circumstance, and was willing to act upon it, no matter how hard the way is. If you ever asked yourself if drastic changes are possible, this story might be one you need to read. Full of unfiltered truths and ugly reality, it shows in a beautiful way how Preston finally got sober and found love.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In a discussion with Athena, Preston talked about his alcoholism and acknowledged that it was his choice to relive his best friend’s accident and death. Though I am absolutely behind the principle that we have a personal choice in how we handle situations, I would not go that far that one has control over all one’s emotions, at least not at the very beginning. However, I admire that a person, even a book character, who has let life get away, got a grip on his actions, realized that each person has the possibility to learn something from any given circumstance, and was willing to act upon it, no matter how hard the way is. If you ever asked yourself if drastic changes are possible, this story might be one you need to read. Full of unfiltered truths and ugly reality, it shows in a beautiful way how Preston finally got sober and found love.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2021
Herein lies the touching story of the relationship of Preston and Athena, who grew up together in a small town as childhood friends. A tragic accident involving one of Preston's friends later on affects him negatively, turning him into an alcoholic. He'd always had eyes for Athena and unbeknownst to him, she always had strong feelings for him, but he thinks she hates him because she's always mean to him. She does tend to be meaner to him when she sees him as a way to keep herself distanced from him because she is angry that he has so much potential he has wasted away. Plus she doesn't want to end up getting too emotionally involved in trying to fix him, thus getting too close to him with her heart again. Meanwhile, Preston discovers through Athena that he is father to a son that he never knew about whose mother will die shortly; she'd like Preston to take her and her son in to live with him while Athena and other nurses care for her; this way he can get to know Liam, his son, and then raise him once she's gone. Want to see how all this plays out? Read this enjoyable book with great character development, an interesting plot, and all the feels to find out! I received this book as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2023
Audio book narrator Jay Dyess.
Preston Harding witnessed his best friend’s death in the prime of his life. Alcohol has numbed the pain.
Until his son’s mother drops the boy off on his doorstep and tells him she is dying. Suddenly he’s responsible for a young life and is facing another death. Thankfully, hospice is taking care of everything except the child.
Athena Coleman loves her job as a hospice nurse. She also loves Preston, her big brother’s best friend, and has all of her life. But he’s too wrapped up in self-medicating with alcohol and hiding his pain from the world by doing crazy stunts that she wouldn’t have him even if he finally did notice her.
Everything changes when she’s assigned to the mother of his child and Preston sobers up to be a father to Liam.
Can they fall in love despite the death between them?
Books in the Cowboy Crossing series:
1. Best Friends in the Show Me State
2. Sold! in the Show Me State
3. A Secret Baby in the Show Me State
4. The Beast Gets His Cowgirl in the Show Me State
5. A Marriage of Convenience in the Show Me State
6. A Second Chance in the Show Me State
7. A Mistletoe Mishap in the Show Me State
8. His Best Friend’s Sister in the Show Me State
Preston Harding witnessed his best friend’s death in the prime of his life. Alcohol has numbed the pain.
Until his son’s mother drops the boy off on his doorstep and tells him she is dying. Suddenly he’s responsible for a young life and is facing another death. Thankfully, hospice is taking care of everything except the child.
Athena Coleman loves her job as a hospice nurse. She also loves Preston, her big brother’s best friend, and has all of her life. But he’s too wrapped up in self-medicating with alcohol and hiding his pain from the world by doing crazy stunts that she wouldn’t have him even if he finally did notice her.
Everything changes when she’s assigned to the mother of his child and Preston sobers up to be a father to Liam.
Can they fall in love despite the death between them?
Books in the Cowboy Crossing series:
1. Best Friends in the Show Me State
2. Sold! in the Show Me State
3. A Secret Baby in the Show Me State
4. The Beast Gets His Cowgirl in the Show Me State
5. A Marriage of Convenience in the Show Me State
6. A Second Chance in the Show Me State
7. A Mistletoe Mishap in the Show Me State
8. His Best Friend’s Sister in the Show Me State
January 26, 2021
The lessons of tragedy...
Preston Harding has lived in a bottle since he and Andrew watched one of their best friends die in a climbing accident. The echoing screams haunt him day and night. His life may as well have ended with Shane’s on that mountain. But not everyone in Cowboy Crossing agrees. Andrew’s sister, Athena, has crushed on Preston for years and is disappointed that he is wasting his life on alcohol. She rouses him by pounding on his door and presents him with a challenge; one that will make him re-evaluate his life and maybe give him a new reason to live. Although Athena deeply cares for Preston, she is not a risk-taker and she has seen alcohol destroy people and relationships.
This is a wonderful, clean romance. I really like the way Jessie Gussman brings in other characters in the series and creates a full meal of plot and interactions. This is a stand-alone story but by the end you want to know more about the supporting characters. What is going to happen to Pastor Gus and Mrs. Hudson? Guess I will have to read the next book to find out!
Preston Harding has lived in a bottle since he and Andrew watched one of their best friends die in a climbing accident. The echoing screams haunt him day and night. His life may as well have ended with Shane’s on that mountain. But not everyone in Cowboy Crossing agrees. Andrew’s sister, Athena, has crushed on Preston for years and is disappointed that he is wasting his life on alcohol. She rouses him by pounding on his door and presents him with a challenge; one that will make him re-evaluate his life and maybe give him a new reason to live. Although Athena deeply cares for Preston, she is not a risk-taker and she has seen alcohol destroy people and relationships.
This is a wonderful, clean romance. I really like the way Jessie Gussman brings in other characters in the series and creates a full meal of plot and interactions. This is a stand-alone story but by the end you want to know more about the supporting characters. What is going to happen to Pastor Gus and Mrs. Hudson? Guess I will have to read the next book to find out!
February 2, 2021
His Best Friend's Sister in the Show Me State
Jessie Gussman
Athena is a caregiver for the terminal ill. She is taking on another case.
Joyce she doesn’t have much time. She has a son Liam and he just learned that the father he thought was his dad turned out not to be. His real father is Preston.
Preston is trying to deal with the loss of his best friend Shane who happened to be Athena’s brother. They went rock climbing without ropes and somehow Shane lost his grip and fell to his death.
Preston blames his self for the accident. Which causes him to drink. He gets awaken by Athena who is at his door with Joyce and Liam.
They get the point across that Joyce had a child with him years ago.
I’ll stop here. I enjoyed reading this book. No adult content.
Clean and believable.
My disclaimer...
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.
Any book or novels I leave reviews on are not dependent on the book/novel review author’s opinion. No one influenced my voluntary review for any of the books or novels I read, they are my own opinions.
Jessie Gussman
Athena is a caregiver for the terminal ill. She is taking on another case.
Joyce she doesn’t have much time. She has a son Liam and he just learned that the father he thought was his dad turned out not to be. His real father is Preston.
Preston is trying to deal with the loss of his best friend Shane who happened to be Athena’s brother. They went rock climbing without ropes and somehow Shane lost his grip and fell to his death.
Preston blames his self for the accident. Which causes him to drink. He gets awaken by Athena who is at his door with Joyce and Liam.
They get the point across that Joyce had a child with him years ago.
I’ll stop here. I enjoyed reading this book. No adult content.
Clean and believable.
My disclaimer...
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.
Any book or novels I leave reviews on are not dependent on the book/novel review author’s opinion. No one influenced my voluntary review for any of the books or novels I read, they are my own opinions.
February 9, 2021
Preston has been on a bender ever since his best buddy died in a climbing accident. When Athena shows up on Preston's doorway, she is accompanied by a boy and a dying woman and Preston is in no shape to welcome visitors. The woman turns out to be a former fling and the boy is the son he never knew he had. Athena is a hospice worker who has known and been attracted to Preston for many years.
As the woman lies dying in his house, Preston starts a relationship with his son - and also with Athena. Both are hesitant to start a relationship.
This book has some good advice in it for all of us - live to enjoy the good things in life and learn accept the things that you cannot change, while continually trying to be a better person.
A continuation of the Show Me State series, this book is completely stand alone.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the author. This is my honest review.
As the woman lies dying in his house, Preston starts a relationship with his son - and also with Athena. Both are hesitant to start a relationship.
This book has some good advice in it for all of us - live to enjoy the good things in life and learn accept the things that you cannot change, while continually trying to be a better person.
A continuation of the Show Me State series, this book is completely stand alone.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the author. This is my honest review.
April 17, 2021
Preston had witnessed the death of one of his best friends. They had been the three amigos until one of them died. Preston had been self-medicating with alcohol to dull the pain of losing his friend and watching his death.
Athena had been secretly crushing on Preston for years. She was tired of him checking out. She didn't have the patience for his pity party. She really didn't want anything to do with him until she becomes the hospice nurse for the mother of his child. The child he didn't know existed.
As Preston stepped into fatherhood and stopped drinking and became the man that Athena always knew he could be, she began to see him differently and while he really didn't feel worthy of Athena, he wanted to be.
This is a sweet story of redemption, discovery and love. I enjoyed it very much, as I do all of this author's books that I have read so far.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Athena had been secretly crushing on Preston for years. She was tired of him checking out. She didn't have the patience for his pity party. She really didn't want anything to do with him until she becomes the hospice nurse for the mother of his child. The child he didn't know existed.
As Preston stepped into fatherhood and stopped drinking and became the man that Athena always knew he could be, she began to see him differently and while he really didn't feel worthy of Athena, he wanted to be.
This is a sweet story of redemption, discovery and love. I enjoyed it very much, as I do all of this author's books that I have read so far.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
April 27, 2021
I borrowed His Best Friend's Sister in the Show Me State from the Kindle Unlimited Program.
Athena Coleman has had a crush on Preston Harding since they were children, but since the tragic death of his best friend Preston has become an alcoholic and Athena is sorry to see him waste his potential and not interested in a relationship.
As a Hospice nurse she brings Joyce to see Preston with their son, Liam. Joyce has a very short time to live because of a brain tumor and was Preston to take care of his son. Because of Liam he stops drinking, slowly recovers, changes his way of thinking and finds his way back to God after a thought provoking talk with Deacon, the local pastor.
Athena learns to take a chance and Preston learns to be a better man as they give Liam a new home and family and find happiness. His Best Friend's Sister in the Show Me State is a sweet romance based on trust.
Athena Coleman has had a crush on Preston Harding since they were children, but since the tragic death of his best friend Preston has become an alcoholic and Athena is sorry to see him waste his potential and not interested in a relationship.
As a Hospice nurse she brings Joyce to see Preston with their son, Liam. Joyce has a very short time to live because of a brain tumor and was Preston to take care of his son. Because of Liam he stops drinking, slowly recovers, changes his way of thinking and finds his way back to God after a thought provoking talk with Deacon, the local pastor.
Athena learns to take a chance and Preston learns to be a better man as they give Liam a new home and family and find happiness. His Best Friend's Sister in the Show Me State is a sweet romance based on trust.
February 1, 2021
Another astounding tale from Jessie Gussman that is extraordinarily difficult to set aside. The characters are so realistic that I am sure many readers would remember someone from their own past. The storyline is complex but also there is some simplicity in the things that are occurring from one page to the next. A solid faith based story that will pull at your heartstrings and bring tears to your eyes. A second chance romance with issues dealing with cancer, losing a best friend, the loss of a parent, alcoholism and of course God's eternal Grace and Love to all of us. Told in a beautiful, unassuming manner that warrants s 5+ rating!!
I received an ARC copy of this book. However, this is my voluntary, honest, and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING
I received an ARC copy of this book. However, this is my voluntary, honest, and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING
February 2, 2021
Athena has had an unreturned crush since childhood on her brother’s best friend, Preston. She wishes she could get over it because Preston is haunted by the memory of the death of another close friend and he has fallen into dissipated living. He’s not good husband material even if he were interested in her. What’s it going to take for Preston to turn his life around? Will Athena be strong enough to let go of her yearning for Preston? You’ll have to read to find out! And the question of “what can we do with life’s brokenness so that it doesn’t break us” will also be examined in this book. It’s a dilemma we all face at some point. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary and honest review.
February 2, 2021
This story had such heartwarming characters. I admired Athena, a hospice nurse, who traveled wherever she was needed. Preston was a friend of Athena's brother and he had never gotten over the death of their friend Shane. It was sad to see how he had turned to drinking to avoid his life and his pain.
There were surprises in the story too that opened so many doors for Preston to change his life and his ways. Pastor Deacon reappeared in this book with some wonderful advice for Preston.
I really enjoyed that Preston and Athena had a chance at a relationship if they both could set aside the past and their fears and look toward their future. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
There were surprises in the story too that opened so many doors for Preston to change his life and his ways. Pastor Deacon reappeared in this book with some wonderful advice for Preston.
I really enjoyed that Preston and Athena had a chance at a relationship if they both could set aside the past and their fears and look toward their future. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
February 16, 2021
It was great to see these two get together after being introduced to them in an earlier book in the series. The concept of 'what can I learn from this situation that is very hard and painful' is really inspiring. I don't personally believe that God orchestrates everything and is responsible for making bad things happen so that we can learn something from it. I DO believe in free will and natural consequences and that we live in a broken world. And I do believe that if we ask - God can equip us to handle anything and learn from it and turn it into a blessing. Subtle but important difference there. Anyway, lovely story and good addition to the series! I read an ARC of this story and am happy to offer this honest review.
May 13, 2025
Sobering
Preston fell into a bottle after a climbing accident killed his best friend. Somewhere along the line, he had a relationship with a woman that resulted in a son (Preston doesn't know). Athena is his best friend's sister, who is a hospice nurse and shows up at his door with the lady and her son when the lady is dying from a brain tumor. Preston never drinks again, but it takes a while to get his personality back. The Lady dies, and Preston keeps improving. Eventually, they go on a date, and finally, he tells her that his father wants him to move to Texas to be a manager in the company where he grew up. Quite a ride, I must say, and thankfully, Preston relies on God and his pastor to get him sober.
Preston fell into a bottle after a climbing accident killed his best friend. Somewhere along the line, he had a relationship with a woman that resulted in a son (Preston doesn't know). Athena is his best friend's sister, who is a hospice nurse and shows up at his door with the lady and her son when the lady is dying from a brain tumor. Preston never drinks again, but it takes a while to get his personality back. The Lady dies, and Preston keeps improving. Eventually, they go on a date, and finally, he tells her that his father wants him to move to Texas to be a manager in the company where he grew up. Quite a ride, I must say, and thankfully, Preston relies on God and his pastor to get him sober.
February 7, 2021
When Jessie Gussman writes, she often tackles the hardest subject matter. This book is no exception. For 10 years Preston has been relying on alcohol to dull the pain of the loss of one of his best friends. When Athena shows up at his door with a little mini me of him, he cannot deny that this is his son. He wants to be a good father so he knew he had to give up alcohol. Deacon also helped to guide him. He has noticed Athena and wants to date her. Will she take a chance on him? Another heartwarming story from Jessie!
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
February 12, 2021
I received an ARC of this book via Bookfunnel and this is my voluntary and honest review. I loved everything about this heartwarming love story between Athena and Preston. Preston finds out he has a son from an earlier relationship when the boy's mother finds out she is dying from a brain tumor. Her Hospice nurse is Athena who had a crush on Preston when in high school. It is her suggestion that Preston lets her care for her patient in his home so he can develop a relationship with his son before his mother dies. This is a well written, compassionate story with wonderful characters who learn to put God first. I highly recommend this book as a clean Christian romance by Jessie Gussman.
February 16, 2021
Second chance at life and love
I’ve been waiting for this book! Really anxious to see Preston shape up.
I loved how he rose to the challenge of becoming a dad. His guilt and fears didn’t disappear instantly but they slowly had less hold on his life. Athena is amazing, yet almost too good to be true, yet somehow manages to be real and likable.
Loved the redemption aspect of the book. The romance was almost a supporting character instead of front and center, which was great and so well done.
And don’t get me wrong, the sizzle that we all love and need is definitely there.
I highly recommend this book.
I’ve been waiting for this book! Really anxious to see Preston shape up.
I loved how he rose to the challenge of becoming a dad. His guilt and fears didn’t disappear instantly but they slowly had less hold on his life. Athena is amazing, yet almost too good to be true, yet somehow manages to be real and likable.
Loved the redemption aspect of the book. The romance was almost a supporting character instead of front and center, which was great and so well done.
And don’t get me wrong, the sizzle that we all love and need is definitely there.
I highly recommend this book.
January 27, 2021
Choices Have Consequences
We all make choices every day. They are sometimes the wrong ones, especially when we take the easy way out which Preston does. Shocked to discover he has a son, he embarks on a journey to do more than he needs to for the people I n his life. With guidance from the Deacon, support from Athena and trust in God, will he be able to turn his life around permanently so he can become the man he wants to be? Loved the story, but not sure an alcoholic can quit cold turkey without withdrawal symptoms. 4.5* rounded up to 5*.
Received an ARC in return for my honest review.
We all make choices every day. They are sometimes the wrong ones, especially when we take the easy way out which Preston does. Shocked to discover he has a son, he embarks on a journey to do more than he needs to for the people I n his life. With guidance from the Deacon, support from Athena and trust in God, will he be able to turn his life around permanently so he can become the man he wants to be? Loved the story, but not sure an alcoholic can quit cold turkey without withdrawal symptoms. 4.5* rounded up to 5*.
Received an ARC in return for my honest review.
January 30, 2021
Dare devil Preston can't get over the death of one of his best friends. He is using alcohol to deal with the pain. Athena has had a crush on him since kindergarten and is the little sister of his other best friend. Can she help him? Will he take in the patient she brings to his door? Will this make them closer or further apart? I was rooting for Preston. Better read now and see if I won. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Like the other series, these are believable and interesting characters.
February 1, 2021
Jessie's books are always well-written with good character development. This story portrayed some of the really hard stuff of life: alcoholism, survivor's guilt, cancer and death, loss of a parent. And through it all is a love story. Love that touched wounded souls, comforted a dying woman, created a family for a teen, encouraged a widow. Preston's and Athena's story is a story of second chances and of embracing the lessons and gifts God gave them in spite of poor choices and the consequences that came with those choices. This is a wonderful, God-honoring story!
February 2, 2021
Only Jessie Gussman could make me laugh when a woman is dying of a brain tumor! Jessie handles hard subjects so beautifully. This book is about death, fatherhood, redemption, transformation, forgiveness and so many other themes. I love it when a character in a book is able to grow. It makes it feel like it's possible for me to do so. Preston, Athena, and Joyce make it seem possible for me to grow. I was laughing and crying and feeling all the feels in this book. Thanks again, Jessie, for the way you view the world.
February 2, 2021
What a wonderful installment in the Cowboy Crossing world. I waited for Preston’s story because I knew his life would show us the power of redemption. This book delivers.
A struggling alcoholic after the loss of a friend, he suddenly finds help in the words of his friend Deacon, and hope in his life through the son he didn’t know he had, and the woman who holds his heart.
This book had plenty of chemistry, but what I loved was the deeper complexity in the lives of the characters. I loved this book and am looking forward to more.
A struggling alcoholic after the loss of a friend, he suddenly finds help in the words of his friend Deacon, and hope in his life through the son he didn’t know he had, and the woman who holds his heart.
This book had plenty of chemistry, but what I loved was the deeper complexity in the lives of the characters. I loved this book and am looking forward to more.
February 8, 2021
Preston, Andrew and Shane, three close friends, until there were two. Preston and Andrew had totally different responses to Shane’s death and unfortunately Preston’s was self-destructive. Sometimes God gives you a wakeup call you are not expecting. Athena, Joyce and Liam are who have been chosen to give him that wakeup call. Jessie Gussman really doesn’t pull any punches especially on the chances that Preston can clean up his act and keep it that way. Athena is a brave soul, not only in the work she does but also in her desire to trust Preston. I really enjoyed this story.
February 9, 2021
You Must Keep Living
This story starts with loss, heartache and pain. It quickly becomes self destructive as survivors guilt eats away at Preston. He successfully pushes all his loved ones away and has no interest in living.
When his best friend's sister shows up at his door, he wants nothing to do with her. Until he comes face to face with his ex and his son in tow. When he learns she is dying and he will need to take care of his son he didn't know about, everyone hopes it's exactly what he needs to find himself again ~
This story starts with loss, heartache and pain. It quickly becomes self destructive as survivors guilt eats away at Preston. He successfully pushes all his loved ones away and has no interest in living.
When his best friend's sister shows up at his door, he wants nothing to do with her. Until he comes face to face with his ex and his son in tow. When he learns she is dying and he will need to take care of his son he didn't know about, everyone hopes it's exactly what he needs to find himself again ~
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