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This is the fourth story in this Sheriff Bride Series. Sheriff Rob Hardin has a tough job. With her three sisters no longer acting as sheriff along with her, her brother-in-law insists the town hire a deputy. Rob agrees, but reluctantly. Leslie should be a huge help, and it brings her some comfort to know another female will be sharing her living quarters. Leslie arrives in Waterhole, but is nothing like Rob expected. Nothing at all! What will happen between the two? Only God can take an unexpected situation and turn it into something neither Rob nor Leslie ever dreamed. Make sure to read Sheriff Bride, Sheriff Bride Jo's Story, Sheriff Bride Dan's Story first before Rob's story although it can stand alone.
- GenresWesterns
68 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2012
21 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Joi Copeland
173 books108 followersJoi Copeland is a wife, mom of three wonderful boys, and Christian novelist. Her husband and their three sons make their home in Galway, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 2, 2025
This is the last (and at 120 pages, slightly the longest) book in the Sheriff Bride series, each installment written by a different author, which my wife Barb and I read together. (She appreciates these books much more than I do.) Here, our focus is on the youngest Hardin sister, Rob (Roberta); and three years have passed since the opening of the first book, so she's now very close to 18, and probably is 18 by the end of this installment. (In western Texas in the late 1870s or early 80s, she would be viewed as of legitimately marriageable age --and the series title is a clue that this might be a relevant consideration.) While I don't go so far as to recommend the series to most readers, if you do read it, I recommend doing so in order; you need the understanding of the situation and the characters as these have developed over time in the earlier books in order to properly experience this one.
Joi Copeland is a more prolific author than any of the other three in this tetralogy, and stylistically a somewhat more polished writer, with less of an aversion to pronouns than her colleagues (though there are still places where she under-uses them). This book is also free of editorial issues. Otherwise, its general flavor is pretty consistent with the previous books; plot-wise, it's distinct from them in two ways. One of these would involve a major spoiler (though the reader learns it fairly early on). The other is that it's the only one of the four to feature a sustained, multiple-combatant gunfight, with (for this series) a high body count. However, it has to be said that the author doesn't handle action scenes very well. With this one, we actually come in on the action only when it's almost over; then the part we missed is later recounted by a participant, in no great detail. So a lot of the dramatic potential here is simply thrown away. And although the neon lamp wasn't invented until 1902, when I read the reactions of two characters to each other's looks in the first chapter, I commented to Barb that we have a flashing neon sign that they're a couple-to-be. :-)
For me, the main factor that pulled down my rating was the marked implausibility of the plotting, all through the book. Yes, I can see why it's necessary for Rob to have a new deputy, given that the one in the third book (where we were never even told his name; here we learn that it's Pedro) had to move to take care of his "ailing" parents. But the misunderstanding surrounding that hire would never have been allowed to occur in real life. Copeland doesn't explain why Leslie needs the deputy job badly enough for that character's desperate suggestion to seem realistic. Travel between Waterhole and neighboring Buford, Texas is initially shown to take nearly all day; but it can suddenly be accomplished in vastly fewer hours when the plot needs it to be. Given that all of the Hardin sisters are supposedly very savvy gunfighters, two of them make a ridiculously dumb tactical decision here, and Rob acts at one point with a really amateurish recklessness which even Barb (who's more inclined to be lenient in judging these books than I am) considered out of character. And though I liked the basic gist of the ending, and though I consider myself an equalitarian feminist, another factor was my feeling that it's irresponsible for a pregnant woman to insist on being in a physically dangerous situation if it isn't absolutely necessary.
Ardent fans of Western romance, who like the genre enough not to be too critical, can enjoy this series. But I don't recommend it to readers who want more accomplished and textured writing.
Joi Copeland is a more prolific author than any of the other three in this tetralogy, and stylistically a somewhat more polished writer, with less of an aversion to pronouns than her colleagues (though there are still places where she under-uses them). This book is also free of editorial issues. Otherwise, its general flavor is pretty consistent with the previous books; plot-wise, it's distinct from them in two ways. One of these would involve a major spoiler (though the reader learns it fairly early on). The other is that it's the only one of the four to feature a sustained, multiple-combatant gunfight, with (for this series) a high body count. However, it has to be said that the author doesn't handle action scenes very well. With this one, we actually come in on the action only when it's almost over; then the part we missed is later recounted by a participant, in no great detail. So a lot of the dramatic potential here is simply thrown away. And although the neon lamp wasn't invented until 1902, when I read the reactions of two characters to each other's looks in the first chapter, I commented to Barb that we have a flashing neon sign that they're a couple-to-be. :-)
For me, the main factor that pulled down my rating was the marked implausibility of the plotting, all through the book. Yes, I can see why it's necessary for Rob to have a new deputy, given that the one in the third book (where we were never even told his name; here we learn that it's Pedro) had to move to take care of his "ailing" parents. But the misunderstanding surrounding that hire would never have been allowed to occur in real life. Copeland doesn't explain why Leslie needs the deputy job badly enough for that character's desperate suggestion to seem realistic. Travel between Waterhole and neighboring Buford, Texas is initially shown to take nearly all day; but it can suddenly be accomplished in vastly fewer hours when the plot needs it to be. Given that all of the Hardin sisters are supposedly very savvy gunfighters, two of them make a ridiculously dumb tactical decision here, and Rob acts at one point with a really amateurish recklessness which even Barb (who's more inclined to be lenient in judging these books than I am) considered out of character. And though I liked the basic gist of the ending, and though I consider myself an equalitarian feminist, another factor was my feeling that it's irresponsible for a pregnant woman to insist on being in a physically dangerous situation if it isn't absolutely necessary.
Ardent fans of Western romance, who like the genre enough not to be too critical, can enjoy this series. But I don't recommend it to readers who want more accomplished and textured writing.
July 9, 2016
Apparently this is a series of books about four sisters who become sheriffs in a small Texas frontier town. They can out shoot and out think any man that dares to oppose them. This is book four; each book is about one of the sisters. This one is about Sheriff Rob (Roberta) Hardin. The other three sisters are now married and their husbands do not want them to be deputies anymore. They push the town to hire a deputy. Rob asks for a woman deputy so they can share quarters. Leslie arrives for work but instead of a woman he is a man. It seems the series is more about Christian romance stories rather than old fashion frontier action stories.
I got the book because I was intrigued by a female sheriff in a Texas frontier town. The book is not exactly what I was interested in. The book is well written and moves at a very fast pace. It is very short at about two hours. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Amy Pastoon does a good job narrating the story.
I got the book because I was intrigued by a female sheriff in a Texas frontier town. The book is not exactly what I was interested in. The book is well written and moves at a very fast pace. It is very short at about two hours. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Amy Pastoon does a good job narrating the story.
March 17, 2013
If you're looking for a captivating novel you can read quickly, I'd encourage you to pick up this one from Joi Copeland. It's a winner! As my first introduction to Ms. Copeland's writing, I was charmed by her characters. Sheriff Rob is a brave and spunky heroine you'll love and Deputy Leslie had me swooning from the start. They're perfect for one another and experiencing their journey toward one another was involving, fun and oh-so-wonderful. Everything about this sweet story was spot-on: humor, drama, romance, emotion. The elements of faith and family, as well as fully-realized secondary characters, were very well-done. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Copeland's books. Highly recommended
February 11, 2013
Short and sweet romance. Quick and fun read.
November 7, 2020
Rob and Les 💞
Definitely the most romantic of the series! But also the shortest 😢
Talk about a whirlwind romance! Rob is the only sister left as sheriff, now that the others are married. When she finds that Mark has hired a new deputy to help her that is named Leslie, she looks forward to having another woman on board. Little does she know that Les is a man...
Definitely the most romantic of the series! But also the shortest 😢
Talk about a whirlwind romance! Rob is the only sister left as sheriff, now that the others are married. When she finds that Mark has hired a new deputy to help her that is named Leslie, she looks forward to having another woman on board. Little does she know that Les is a man...
September 12, 2020
Great story
I have enjoyed reading all about the sister sheriffs of Waterhole TX but I have to say this has been my favorite story of them all.
I have enjoyed reading all about the sister sheriffs of Waterhole TX but I have to say this has been my favorite story of them all.
October 25, 2020
Sweet and clean. Strong female characters in this series.
March 14, 2024
True LOVE
I really enjoyed this book series so very much. THE last book Rob was one of my favorites. ROB (BRIDES OF WATERHOLE, TEXAS) BY JOI COPELAND .
I really enjoyed this book series so very much. THE last book Rob was one of my favorites. ROB (BRIDES OF WATERHOLE, TEXAS) BY JOI COPELAND .
August 6, 2025
great book
This was a great book and by a great author. I highly recommend this book and author. I can’t wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.
This was a great book and by a great author. I highly recommend this book and author. I can’t wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.
August 15, 2020
Baby sister
Dog's the baby sister, the only sheriff remaining of the four sisters, so when a deputy named Leslie is hired it's assumed he, Les, is a woman. To save her reputation they marry and it's a fast paced well written romance that follows.
Dog's the baby sister, the only sheriff remaining of the four sisters, so when a deputy named Leslie is hired it's assumed he, Les, is a woman. To save her reputation they marry and it's a fast paced well written romance that follows.
August 7, 2020
Leslie and Roberta
This is a sweet, exciting and adventurous love story. Rob is the youngest of the four sheriff sisters. Needing a deputy as she is being sheriff alone, Mark hires Leslie. Thinking Leslie is a woman they plan on her sharing the housing with Rob. Not to bead Les is all man. Gorgeous head to toe. They marry for proprieties sake and their love story begins. You will enjoy discovering how Les and Tob find their happily ever after.
This is a sweet, exciting and adventurous love story. Rob is the youngest of the four sheriff sisters. Needing a deputy as she is being sheriff alone, Mark hires Leslie. Thinking Leslie is a woman they plan on her sharing the housing with Rob. Not to bead Les is all man. Gorgeous head to toe. They marry for proprieties sake and their love story begins. You will enjoy discovering how Les and Tob find their happily ever after.
July 6, 2020
A wonderful tale
A wonderful ending to this series.
Follow along as the final sister finds her true love.
He's a she and she's a he.
A wonderful ending to this series.
Follow along as the final sister finds her true love.
He's a she and she's a he.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews