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Born in Texas #1

Accidental Hero: Hometown Heroes A-Z

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Once burnt, twice shy, never again! He needs a job, she’s trying to save her family’s ranch, and neither of them is looking for an explosive attraction to complicate things. Sure the chemistry between them is real, but the timing is off — way off!

Army Ranger Matt Romero allows his ex-fiancée to pressure him into leaving the military during a whirlwind relationship, only to be dumped by her at the altar. During a road trip across Texas for a job interview, he stops to rescue an injured woman from a collision. Her intriguing plea before the ambulance arrives makes him linger in town a few extra hours.

Bree Anderson and her brother, Brody, are barely keeping their ranch afloat after a failed joint business venture with her ex-fiancé. So she is livid when she wakes from a coma to discover that her brother has talked the stranger who saved her life into becoming their newest investment partner. And not the long-distance kind, either.

Despite their instant attraction, neither Matt nor Bree is quick or willing to take a second chance at love. Or even give each other the benefit of the doubt. Brody works like crazy to keep the peace between them, but there’s only so much one partially paralyzed cowboy can do. All too soon Matt and Bree realize they’re fighting more than an unwanted attraction, and flushing out the secret saboteur plaguing their ranch is going to directly depend on their ability to learn to work together — despite the sparks flying between them. Or maybe because of them?

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2021

936 people are currently reading
350 people want to read

About the author

Jo Grafford

168 books664 followers
Jo is an Amazon bestselling author of heartwarming cowboy romantic suspense stories, with a few Texas-sized detours into humor.

Join Cuppa Jo Readers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Cuppa.... Join her newsletter at https://www.JoGrafford.com.

Jo also writes clean western historical romance and cozy mysteries as Jovie Grace.

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5 stars
1,031 (65%)
4 stars
380 (23%)
3 stars
148 (9%)
2 stars
20 (1%)
1 star
7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
1,765 reviews33 followers
February 24, 2021
Bree and Matt's story was fabulous! Can't wait for more stories in this series! I have to admit that at first I didn't like Bree much. I mean Matt just rescues her from a horrific accident and she can't get over that he looks like her ex? How about feeling some gratitude? She would be dead without his intervention! Unbeknownst to her, her brother has hired Matt while Bree was in the hospital, to be the business manager for their ranch. Bree can't stand the fact that she'll see Matt every day. I just kept thinking that a "normal" person would be able to get over the physical similarities of the two men and give Matt a chance but she doesn't. However, Matt, charms his way past her defenses by being patient and caring. I liked the two characters and the other secondary characters that added drama to the story. There are several things going on in the book and each part was great! Bree's brother, Brody, is truly a wonderful sibling and can't wait for his story next!
Profile Image for Lori D.
4,080 reviews131 followers
February 28, 2021
An exciting start to a new series that only makes you want to read more!

Matt Romero, former army ranger, was on his way to a job interview when he helped rescue a woman from an accident. (oh a fated meeting for sure!) Just having been left at the altar, he was trying to get a new start.

Bree and her brother were running their farm but had come upon some bad luck when her ex fiance', left them high and dry and in financial trouble. Matt comes to the rescue and ends up going into a partnership with them. Unfortunately, he is the spitting image of Bree's ex fiance'!

Adored these two, who's meeting seemed Divine, and a love to be found on their journey! Jo does it again!
Profile Image for Lisa Malmquist.
772 reviews24 followers
July 29, 2022
Matt Romero is an ex Army Ranger. He is looking for a new job and a new life.
He gets stopped at a traffic stop and there is an accident while he is pulled over and he rushes in to save a girl from a burning vehicle.
The girl is Bree Anderson, a cowgirl from a local ranch.
Matt meets her brother in the hospital and is offered a job at their ranch.
After all, saving Bree's life is not a bad recommendation.
LOts of action and adventure, humor and a nice romance.
581 reviews
March 26, 2021
Accidental Hero is an emotional story that had it's fair share of suspense and secrets. Matt was engaged to be married and his fiancee wanted to spend more time with him so he finished his career in the Rangers. He soon finds out she has moved on to another guy without telling him. He packs his truck and the day they were to be married he is in route to Amarillo to get a security job with a company there. And as anyone would do when they are upset and thinking and driving on the open road he is not paying attention to his speed and gets pulled over going 95 mph! However, while they are talking Matt sees a dump truck go to veering over too far in the grassy area and the trooper and Matt watch as a huge wreck happens. Matt helps a woman out of a pick up before it exploded while the trooper is helping the other vehicles. The woman he rescues tells him not to leave her. The EMT that arrives is best friends with the woman that name is Bree. He agrees to go to the hospital with her and stays till her brother gets there. Brody takes Matt to the cafeteria and finds out why he was on that road and wants to see what Matt thinks of the hamburger as they sell beef to the hospital. Brody and Matt continues to talk and next thing that happens, Matt is going to work for Brody as the ranch manager.

When Bree sees Matt she is very upset as he looks so much like her ex that worked for them and dated her while he stole most of their money. She was really upset every time she had to be near Matt until the morning she looks up at him and he is wearing a Batman mask from his nose up. While she is laughing and looking over the barn renovation plans, his ex fiancee shows up begging him to come back to her. Needless to say she leaves without him. But, he has fallen for Bree and that day Bree kisses him. Things are going good at the ranch till the cabin Matt is staying in is set on fire and secrets start coming out.
Profile Image for Marie.
5,181 reviews52 followers
February 24, 2021
'I can do more than rock it in a Batman mask!'

Matt may be a little bruised and broken but he is a Ranger and saving the day is what he does....maybe not pulling women from exploding vehicles, but he couldn't do nothing!
Bree is shattered, physically and mentally, she is not sure how many more times she can deal with life knocking her down, especially not when the latest knock down is a Ranger in a...Batman mask?
Fate can make or break you, Matt decides he is embracing everything she throws at him, because everything happens for a reason...doesn't it? Even car crashes, cheating fiancé's, sabotage, accidents, explosions, fires, speeding tickets, hidden identities and kisses!
I loved this first book in the series which I read on Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Jennifer Cagle.
778 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2021
I almost always finish reading every book I start, I've finished over 200 this year but I had to stop reading this one because the woman in this story couldn't stand the man because of how he looked and this was I THOUGHT a Christian novel. Maybe one day I can pick it back up but the attitude just completely made me not want to read any more of it.
74 reviews
September 27, 2025
I really want to like this author but...

I really want to like Ms Grafford's books but have trouble with them. I think she says she is a Christian author but her Christian message is so tepid that it is pointless. There's a point in the book where the hero was thanking God but then he he said something about everything happening by chance. There's a lot of cliches and an overuse of exclamation points! The characters were annoyingly shallow and immature about the first third of the book, they did grow up quite a bit by the end. The author's writing is rather immature as well. I did like the theme of, "you matter" throughout the book. This book was better than a few of her others that I've tried. As I said I keep wanting to like this author and this book was the best of the ones of hers I've tried. She did introduce a lot of characters and there were a few random parts like a scene with the sheriff that were out of place and unnecessary. However, I think she is setting the scene for the characters in future books so that aspect didn't bother me too much.
1,460 reviews23 followers
January 6, 2022
Accidental Hero

I loved this heartwarming romance between Bree and Matt. All things happen for a reason where God's plans are concerned. Matt was pulled over for speeding when Brew was one of the drivers involved in a vehicle accident nearby. When he helped the police officer with the wreck victims, he wasn't given a speeding ticket. Matt was the one who got Brew out of her truck, and he went to the hospital to be with her until her brother, Brody, arrived. After finding out that Brody and Brew were struggling to keep their ranch, Matt offered to help them financially if they made him a partner. At first Bree didn't trust Matt because he looked like a guy who broke her heart and was the one who took their money. Matt won her over eventually and turned their ranch I to a successful B&B. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy a clean Christian romance with a HEA ending. This is my voluntary and honest review.
183 reviews1 follower
June 7, 2022
Do you believe in fate? If so, this novel will capture your imagination because everything in this book happens because of one fateful occurrence that leads to a string of situations that thankfully leads to a HEA for our two main characters, Bree and Matt. Bree is a stubborn Texas girl and Matt is a former Army Ranger beginning a new life. Thankfully, the confrontations between these two are resolved sooner than later and then they just have to start dealing with everything that is going on around them and what they are trying to accomplish together and along with Bree's brother, Brody, and various other characters. This was a charming story with a hero that you definitely want to get to know and a heroine that is contrary, but not so much that she loses a lot of time with someone that she can be happy with.
1,645 reviews15 followers
June 1, 2025
4.25 STARS

This was part of a bundle I purchased called BORN IN TEXAS BOXED SET: Books 1-5.

I enjoyed this story, the pacing was slow at times. This is more or less a Christian Novel, only kisses, and talks about faith.

The main and secondary characters were believable. I did want to know more what happened to the h's ex. Also, how did he discover the secret of one of the workers. Also, is the H related to someone from the h's past?

The opening scene of the accident and follow-up was suspenseful.

If the H wanted to go back to the military, there was a way. How did the H's ex know where he was?

Cheating, but off page and not with our H/h. Some romance, no cliffhanger, nice set up for next story, and only kisses.

I can't improve on the blurb, just giving you extra tidbits to decide whether to purchase. (ljb)
Profile Image for Shonda.
Author 10 books47 followers
February 25, 2021
Fantastic characters that become so much like old friends! This is a great story that pulled me in right away. The small town and the close knit church family took me back to my years at a church similar to this. The struggles that the characters went through point out that we all, even Pastors, go through valleys and question God. I loved the lesson to the reader, call out to God, he won’t forsake you. This is a story that will fill your heart and have you truly smiling at God’s goodness. A sweet romance that is budding due to the inside not outward appearance, is such a refreshing part of the story. So much to love about this book, will definitely keep you engaged and happy you read it!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Carol.
838 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2021
Accidental Hero

Matt Romero's day seemed to go from bad to worse. First it was supposed to be his day to get married but he caught his fiance cheating just days before. As he was heading to a new town for a job interview he is pulled over for speeding and just ad he is about to get a huge ticket, a severe accident happens right around him and the police officer.
Matt springs to the rescue of the person caught in a overturned pick-up truck just before it catches fire so maybe his luck is changing.
When he finds out who he resembles and why that is so bad he thinks maybe things haven't changed after all but he is determined to change them, that person in the truck wad one awesome woman that he wants to win over.
1,164 reviews6 followers
February 23, 2021
Oh. My. Goodness. I LOVED this book! Matt and Bree meet in a totally horrific way. However, it does save Matt from getting a hefty speeding ticket. It throws both of them together in ways neither could really imagine, and especially at a time neither wanted. When they have to work together to keep his new partnership and her family's ranch, the sparks really fly!! They learn they make a good team, but when they add God to the mix, they make a great team! Such a great start to a new series!! Looking forward to the ones to follow!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
361 reviews8 followers
September 27, 2023
Bree and Matt meet when he rescues her from the truck she was driving is wrecked and close to catching on fire. He had been stopped because he was speeding and was in the right place at the right time to help her. Bree's brother Brody believes everything happens for a reason. He ends up giving Matt a job on the ranch he and his sister own. And the story goes from there. I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it kept my interest and made me want to see what happened next. I want to read the second book in the series. I have not read a bad book by Jo Grafford. (I especially like her A Very Country Christmas Wish series.) Thank you Jo.
1,070 reviews23 followers
February 26, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Accidental Hero. Jo Grafford knows how to write so that the reader has a movie version going in her mind as she reads. The characters are believable and likable before too long into the story. I enjoyed reading about Bree's change of attitude, while still maintaining her sass. The banter between Bree and Matt made me smile. I loved how family is so important to the characters. I liked the suspense element in the story. The plot has some twists and moves at a good pace. There is a wonderful HEA and epilogue.
I got my copy though KU.
Profile Image for Dotty.
767 reviews
May 9, 2022
Wonderful book

Well written grabs your attention fast.
Matt just got out of the Army. He is caught speeding but instead of a ticket he helps save the life of a resident whose truck exploded.
Bree runs a ranch with her brother. She was out taking care of some business when a dump truck caused an accident.
Bree wants nothing to do with Matt because he left looks just like her X who stole from them and left them high and dry.
Can she come to accept Matt and his help. Grab the book to find out.
1,232 reviews3 followers
June 9, 2022
Short, sweet, and clean contemporary romance where guy meets gal by literal accident when Matt saves Bree's life after a highway accident. Everything happens extremely quickly after that from awakening from a coma to being discharged home the same day (never happens, but oh well) to discovering long lost kin. Entertaining, but timing is almost too fantastical when the bad guys are discovered and caught by the good guys and forgiveness abounds throughout. A good bedside story for all between the Texas twang, sweet kisses, and continuous quips, concluding with a happy ending.
2,186 reviews5 followers
May 9, 2024
3 stars
Very nice and very clean suspenseful romance.
There’s a bad guy. There’s a wronged woman, who decides to dislike the accidental hero because he looks like her ex.
Honestly, Bree was not an easy character to like. Hateful for no reason to Matt. He literally saved her life. Then he figuratively saved her life by investing in her ranch and helping Bree and her brother reach their dreams.
Lots of found family here. Actual found family.
I didn’t realize it was a Christian novel. It was a nice story but I mostly like a bit of steam in my romances.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
230 reviews6 followers
August 5, 2024
What a great start to a series! Matt and Bree had both been recently hurt in relationships, and they were both still hurting. However, I loved that Matt quickly realized that the Lord was working in his life to have him in the right place at the right time. I loved how well Matt treated Bree and how he allowed her to take things at her own pace. Bree started out being pretty disgruntled, but it did not take her long to get on board with changes that would be taking place at the ranch. I liked how Matt and Bree learned to have faith and to work together to resolve their issues.
Profile Image for Kara.
242 reviews
January 18, 2025
Cute moments and an enjoyable story for the most part. The author does a lot of telling, not showing emotion and the characters respond to other's thoughts as if they could read minds. Another thing is that the characters always say exactly what they mean, which kind of bugged me. There was a missed opportunity there for them to learn how to communicate with each other and work through their struggle. Also, Matt was too perfect - as in, saint-like perfect. Everyone has flaws and that makes characters more relatable to the reader.
Profile Image for SJ Garrison.
652 reviews
February 23, 2021
Loved Matt and Bree's story. Matt had been burned by his two timing fiancee. Bree had been used by her thieving boyfriend, who clean out the family bank account. Both had no intentions of looking for love for a long time to come. Then Bree was in a car pile up, right before Matt's eyes. I read this book in a 24 hour period. Wonderful characters. If you like clean, heartfelt stories, you will enjoy 'Accidental Hero'. I received this book from the publisher. The thoughts and comments are my own.
Profile Image for Nethanja.
843 reviews9 followers
February 24, 2021
On his way to a job interview Matt saved Bree’s life. When sho woke up from a coma 3 days later she discovers that to her chagrin her brother hired him. How can they trust a stranger after what had happened a short time ago? But they have all to work together to save the ranch.
I loved this story, the building a friendship and even a family between all the characters is great to follow, and of course it has a sweet love story. It’s a great start of a new series.
Profile Image for Gina.
2,392 reviews31 followers
February 24, 2021
Matt and Bree have a rough start after he saves her from a car fire. Matt meets her brother Brody and it is a quick friendship and Matt invests in their farm . But Bree is still smarting from a broken heart and Matt reminds her of her ex. Matt does something so funny that she can't resist him amymore. They need to find out who is trying to steal their ideas to be able to move forward with their plans. Such a great story of things happening for a reason, friendship and falling in love
251 reviews3 followers
April 17, 2021
Accidental Hero: Hometown Heroes A-Z(Born in Texas Book 1)

This is the story of Matt and Bree. Matt saves her life when he rescues her from getting blown up in a 3 car accident. When she wakes up in the hospital she turns on Matt because he resembles her ex-boyfriend who she hates because he cheated and stole from her and her brother Brody. Matt waits at the hospital with Bree until her brother gets there. Brody feels that it is fate that everything happened for a reason.
Profile Image for Frank Kelso.
Author 12 books368 followers
June 13, 2022
Storyline ok, but details of cattle ranch from rhinestone 🤠

Nice opening, saving a women after a car-crash. Things get mixed up when it appears everyone at the ranch but male protagonist is related to one another?? COWs don't "bray," COWs low in the meadow. Cowboy riding boots come with a 3-inch heel. A true cowgirl would never put 6-inch heels on her boots????? I've seen the Fiesta Queen in the San Antonio Flower Parade wear a bias-cut hem gown to show-off her riding boots!
Profile Image for Stephanie Bolen.
2,152 reviews28 followers
January 20, 2025
It's a Christian Romance

I wasn't expecting that. It's very sweet--too sweet for me. The suspense part is tacked on with no real motive. The found "family" thing is taken way too literally. The pacing is all over the place: very slow at the beginning then super fast at the end. It was fine but I thought it would be different from the title. It needs editing to fit in the chosen category or to fit the inspirational subgenre.
Profile Image for Doris Stillings.
259 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2025
Accident to Hero

Matt was going for a job interview. He got pulled over for speeding, when a dump truck crossed a medium and rolled over. This caused a major pile up. Matt helped the office rescue the people trpped in their cars. Pulling out a woman from her burning truck, he finds love at first sight. However, this book has a lot of twists, humor and accidents happening. I loved this book.
Profile Image for Sherry Sias.
658 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2025
Great, clean cowboy romance.

Loved Bree and Matt. Matt saved Bree right before her truck exploded while in an accident. Her brother Brody brought him on board as his ranch manager. Bree did not like this, as Matt looked like her ex who swindled money and stole from them.
Can Bree get past all of that to see Matt is there to help? As she starts to have feelings, do they both give in?
Profile Image for Mary.
25 reviews
February 22, 2021
Oh my goodness!!!! I am so in love with this new series and I am excited there will be 26 of them!!!!! I already am making a list of people I want to see get their own book!
This series is set in Texas and has a down to earth feel. I am hopeful there are more local traditions and things talked about, I love to learn about new places. This will be a great series to watch unfold.
749 reviews4 followers
February 23, 2021
Hidden family

A terrible accident changes Matts plan, for that day, his job and his life. Falling for Bree after recuing her from the vehicle brings on challenges and new goals. Could he come up with a way to save the ranch, and whats up with some of the hands. A great read, leaves you wanting to know whos next to find happiness.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews

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