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Texas Rebels #4
Jude
Rebel Dad
The day his son was born, Jude Rebel knew he was meant to be a father. That was why he had to stop the adoption. How could he give away his own flesh and blood? For twelve years, Jude has kept his secret. Until Paige Wheeler comes home to Horseshoe, regretting the decision that changed both their lives forever.
At eighteen, all Paige wanted was to escape her Texas town and troubled, hardscrabble life. Her ticket out cost her dearly. Now she has a chance to make things right. Finding out Jude has been raising their child is only the beginning. Is it too late for forgiveness? Or have they all been given a second chance?
The day his son was born, Jude Rebel knew he was meant to be a father. That was why he had to stop the adoption. How could he give away his own flesh and blood? For twelve years, Jude has kept his secret. Until Paige Wheeler comes home to Horseshoe, regretting the decision that changed both their lives forever.
At eighteen, all Paige wanted was to escape her Texas town and troubled, hardscrabble life. Her ticket out cost her dearly. Now she has a chance to make things right. Finding out Jude has been raising their child is only the beginning. Is it too late for forgiveness? Or have they all been given a second chance?
- GenresRomance
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2016
About the author
Linda Warren
151 books334 followersLinda Warren loves happy endings. The Rita® nominated and award-winning author has written 26 books for Harlequin, including SuperRomance, American, and Everlasting Love. Drawing upon her years of growing up on a farm/ranch in Texas, she writes about sexy heroes, feisty heroines, and broken families with an emotional punch all set against the backdrop of Texas. She lives in College Station with her husband and spends her days doing what she loves—creating unforgettable love stories—with happy endings.
Linda Warren was born Linda Siegert in Brazos County, TX, on July 2, 1945. She passed away on November 8, 2023, in Bryant, TX. Warren is survived by her husband, several children, and grandchildren.
Linda Warren was born Linda Siegert in Brazos County, TX, on July 2, 1945. She passed away on November 8, 2023, in Bryant, TX. Warren is survived by her husband, several children, and grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 22, 2016
Good story of second chances, redemption, and family. Paige and Jude had been high school sweethearts, but their futures were set on different paths. Jude loved his family's ranch and had no desire to go anywhere else. Paige had a miserable home life with an emotionally abusive mother and couldn't wait to get out of Horseshoe. She has a scholarship for medical school and can't wait to use it. Then she finds out she's pregnant.
Both Jude and Paige are young and know that they aren't ready to be parents. Paige is especially scared because of her mother. She takes her worries to her school counselor, who encourages Paige to consider adoption. Paige constantly asks for Jude's thoughts, but gets no real response. Jude has plenty of thoughts, but never expresses them to Paige, feeling that he has no right to ask her to give up her dreams. But when the baby is born and they've signed away their rights, Jude is torn. He says goodbye to Paige, but then makes the decision to cancel the adoption and raise the baby himself.
It isn't easy, but he has the help and support of his family. Zane is the center of Jude's life, and he will do anything to keep him safe and happy. Then after twelve years, Paige comes back to Horseshoe for her mother's funeral. She has been haunted by her decision for years, and wants to find out what happened to her child. Jude isn't happy, but knows he has to tell her the truth. He also knows that his son's happiness comes first, and it's up to Zane to decide what he wants to do.
This was a very emotional book, as three people had to deal with the consequences of a decision made long ago. There were things I did and didn't like about the ways they went about it. I loved Jude's devotion to Zane and the way that he stepped up and took responsibility. Though he had help from his family, he was Zane's father and the main caregiver. However, I had trouble with his lack of communication with Paige, both in the past and present. Back during her pregnancy, he never spoke up about his feelings and what he thought was the right thing to do. He just went along with her decisions. When he went and got the baby, he never tried to reach her and tell her what he had done. When Paige came back, he still wasn't the most communicative. He did tell her some of what he felt, but wasn't always as open as he should have been.
Paige had had a miserable life at home. It left her with some real problems with her self esteem. Because of her mother's attitude, Paige didn't feel that she could bring a baby home, which left her vulnerable to a counselor who had her own agenda. When Paige came back and told Jude what it had been like for her after she left, I completely understood Jude's anger. She had wallowed in her misery, never bothering to even call Jude and tell him how she felt. Of course, when she found out that Jude had been raising Zane, she wanted to meet him. She wasn't happy about Jude's resistance, and proceeded to still beat herself up about her past actions. I wanted to shake her and tell her to snap out of it.
Then there was Zane. He's a really smart, happy kid. He's enthusiastic about the things he likes. He's been curious about his mother, and Jude has been honest with him about what happened. But he's still only twelve, and it rocks his world when he finds out about Paige. I ached for Paige when he refused to have anything to do with her, but had high hopes that his better nature would win out. His was the part I liked most, as he worked his way through his feelings.
Paige and Jude also discovered that the feelings they'd had as teens had not gone away. Neither had their old ways of dealing with things. Jude knew that Paige had to go back to California to finish her training, and did not talk to her about it. Paige had to make a decision about her future, and didn't talk to Jude either. So much angst could have been avoided if they had just talked to each other. They nearly blew it again, but finally had the courage to confront their fears. I did like the way that they worked things out.
Both Jude and Paige are young and know that they aren't ready to be parents. Paige is especially scared because of her mother. She takes her worries to her school counselor, who encourages Paige to consider adoption. Paige constantly asks for Jude's thoughts, but gets no real response. Jude has plenty of thoughts, but never expresses them to Paige, feeling that he has no right to ask her to give up her dreams. But when the baby is born and they've signed away their rights, Jude is torn. He says goodbye to Paige, but then makes the decision to cancel the adoption and raise the baby himself.
It isn't easy, but he has the help and support of his family. Zane is the center of Jude's life, and he will do anything to keep him safe and happy. Then after twelve years, Paige comes back to Horseshoe for her mother's funeral. She has been haunted by her decision for years, and wants to find out what happened to her child. Jude isn't happy, but knows he has to tell her the truth. He also knows that his son's happiness comes first, and it's up to Zane to decide what he wants to do.
This was a very emotional book, as three people had to deal with the consequences of a decision made long ago. There were things I did and didn't like about the ways they went about it. I loved Jude's devotion to Zane and the way that he stepped up and took responsibility. Though he had help from his family, he was Zane's father and the main caregiver. However, I had trouble with his lack of communication with Paige, both in the past and present. Back during her pregnancy, he never spoke up about his feelings and what he thought was the right thing to do. He just went along with her decisions. When he went and got the baby, he never tried to reach her and tell her what he had done. When Paige came back, he still wasn't the most communicative. He did tell her some of what he felt, but wasn't always as open as he should have been.
Paige had had a miserable life at home. It left her with some real problems with her self esteem. Because of her mother's attitude, Paige didn't feel that she could bring a baby home, which left her vulnerable to a counselor who had her own agenda. When Paige came back and told Jude what it had been like for her after she left, I completely understood Jude's anger. She had wallowed in her misery, never bothering to even call Jude and tell him how she felt. Of course, when she found out that Jude had been raising Zane, she wanted to meet him. She wasn't happy about Jude's resistance, and proceeded to still beat herself up about her past actions. I wanted to shake her and tell her to snap out of it.
Then there was Zane. He's a really smart, happy kid. He's enthusiastic about the things he likes. He's been curious about his mother, and Jude has been honest with him about what happened. But he's still only twelve, and it rocks his world when he finds out about Paige. I ached for Paige when he refused to have anything to do with her, but had high hopes that his better nature would win out. His was the part I liked most, as he worked his way through his feelings.
Paige and Jude also discovered that the feelings they'd had as teens had not gone away. Neither had their old ways of dealing with things. Jude knew that Paige had to go back to California to finish her training, and did not talk to her about it. Paige had to make a decision about her future, and didn't talk to Jude either. So much angst could have been avoided if they had just talked to each other. They nearly blew it again, but finally had the courage to confront their fears. I did like the way that they worked things out.
June 16, 2017
Awesome story ! Second chance but not without some real effort ! ... not without getting past some major issues. The storyline had my emotional meter on a roller coaster.
Zane was a little gem.
Thank you Linda Warren for another great creation: The story of Jude and Paige ... & and little Zane.
.... & for the Rebel Family of Texas !
Looking forward to another cowboy Rebel brother's love story.
... the past, the present... dreaming and moving into their futures .... The Texas Rebels !!!
Zane was a little gem.
Thank you Linda Warren for another great creation: The story of Jude and Paige ... & and little Zane.
.... & for the Rebel Family of Texas !
Looking forward to another cowboy Rebel brother's love story.
... the past, the present... dreaming and moving into their futures .... The Texas Rebels !!!
May 30, 2016
3.5 to 4 stars
As a romance, this didn’t work for me. I didn’t find the romance convincing, and there wasn’t much of it. As an emotionally compelling read, I found it hard to put down. Paige was so miserable at times that I was uncomfortable, and her inability to forgive herself made me a little crazy. But so did Jude’s lack of communication skills. This couple would have spared themselves so much DRAMA if they could only talk to each other. They have known each other forever, dated through high school, and loved each other, but they couldn’t fix what was broken between them. I wanted to strangle Jude. If he would have spoken up 12 years ago, and again now, their lives would have been so much better.
Despite my irritation with the couple, and what for me was a lack of courtship, I read this quickly because I couldn’t put it down. I would like to read the other books in this series to catch up on the rest of the family.
As a romance, this didn’t work for me. I didn’t find the romance convincing, and there wasn’t much of it. As an emotionally compelling read, I found it hard to put down. Paige was so miserable at times that I was uncomfortable, and her inability to forgive herself made me a little crazy. But so did Jude’s lack of communication skills. This couple would have spared themselves so much DRAMA if they could only talk to each other. They have known each other forever, dated through high school, and loved each other, but they couldn’t fix what was broken between them. I wanted to strangle Jude. If he would have spoken up 12 years ago, and again now, their lives would have been so much better.
Despite my irritation with the couple, and what for me was a lack of courtship, I read this quickly because I couldn’t put it down. I would like to read the other books in this series to catch up on the rest of the family.
February 2, 2021
For me, it was just ok... I couldn't empathize with the female character and her arc seemed a bit forced to me... I don't get it... You've been mourning 12 years and then in 2 months you're all healed? I did not like the way they decided to solve everything in the end... You have to talk to each other! It's been 12 years... You are not the same people... I don't know... Some things felt good (I liked the male MC) but, all in all, it was just an average story for me...
March 31, 2020
Though this book was ultimately enjoyable, Paige annoyed me. I felt that when she was first introduced to her son, she was too pushy with him. I could understand where she would be coming from, but this behavior made me dislike her. Her actions felt unjustified for too long and when they were finally given reason, I felt that it was too late for my opinion of her to change.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2022
Been awhile since I visited the Rebels. I enjoy the storyline but I found Paige annoying. The men are the focus of these stories and most of the women are "villains" and make unreasonable decisions. There was a happily ever after so there's that.
July 26, 2017
Yet another awesome book in the Texas Rebels series. I loved reading Jude and Paige's story. Linda is a great authors and I just love all her characters.
February 20, 2018
This was a good book, the child was funny and very wise beyond his years.
June 17, 2018
This was ok not. so you f of second chances. It was sad she lost so many years with her son
January 4, 2020
When you are young we all do stupid things. We all grow and learn. Yet there was love and it was strong and deep. Incredibly well written.
November 19, 2024
I enjoyed reading Jude and Paige's story
June 25, 2016
great book ,knowing there is a time for second chances makes this a special story.Jude and Paige are such well developed characters I loved the total story and cant wait to read the rest of the series.
Read
June 30, 2016"...,Warren once again writes an emotional and satisfactory read" (RT Book Reviews).
Miniseries: Texas Rebels
Miniseries: Texas Rebels
August 13, 2016
Loved the whole makeup of this book. The characters and the plot was exceptional. Have to read some others in this series.
August 24, 2018
Jude and Paige
Definitely an emotion filled book. Kept me turning the pages because I needed to see what was going to happen next. Love those Rebels
Definitely an emotion filled book. Kept me turning the pages because I needed to see what was going to happen next. Love those Rebels
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews