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Sweet Water Ranch #9
The Cowboy's Enemy
Can you love someone and hate them at the same time?
*Previously titled Cowboy's Don't Marry Their Enemy*
She led him on, lied about him, then dumped him for his cousin.
She was his enemy.
He walked.
But he loved her still.
Can people change?
Cora Fischer knew they could. Heartbreak, abject poverty and a mother’s bear instincts to protect her children at all costs could turn a selfish, spoiled girl into a strong, formidable woman.
But first loves die hard.
They were enemies, never lovers, despite what she told her family and the town. She hated him then, and he hates her now.
But she can give him what he wants, and she’s willing to make a deal. Is she strong enough to conquer her foe and not destroy herself?
Or maybe she could write new chapter: old enemies make the best husbands.
Books in the Sweet Water Ranch series:
1. The Cowboy's Best Friend
2. The Cowboy's Secret Baby
3. The Cowboy's Beauty
4. The Cowboy's Best Friend's Sister
5. The Cowboy's Convenient Marriage
6. The Cowboy's Fairy Tale
7. The Cowboy's Secret Romance
8. The Cowboy's Bargain Bride
9. The Cowboy's Enemy
10. The Cowboy's Mistletoe Christmas
11. The Cowboy's Marriage Mistake
*Previously titled Cowboy's Don't Marry Their Enemy*
She led him on, lied about him, then dumped him for his cousin.
She was his enemy.
He walked.
But he loved her still.
Can people change?
Cora Fischer knew they could. Heartbreak, abject poverty and a mother’s bear instincts to protect her children at all costs could turn a selfish, spoiled girl into a strong, formidable woman.
But first loves die hard.
They were enemies, never lovers, despite what she told her family and the town. She hated him then, and he hates her now.
But she can give him what he wants, and she’s willing to make a deal. Is she strong enough to conquer her foe and not destroy herself?
Or maybe she could write new chapter: old enemies make the best husbands.
Books in the Sweet Water Ranch series:
1. The Cowboy's Best Friend
2. The Cowboy's Secret Baby
3. The Cowboy's Beauty
4. The Cowboy's Best Friend's Sister
5. The Cowboy's Convenient Marriage
6. The Cowboy's Fairy Tale
7. The Cowboy's Secret Romance
8. The Cowboy's Bargain Bride
9. The Cowboy's Enemy
10. The Cowboy's Mistletoe Christmas
11. The Cowboy's Marriage Mistake
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2021
1148 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
October 30, 2019
Loved it!
Saw this was released today, got it on MY and spent the rest of the afternoon reading! Such a good story! And I love the character of Abner! You can just feel the honesty and goodness in him through the dialogue. Great story! Great read!
Saw this was released today, got it on MY and spent the rest of the afternoon reading! Such a good story! And I love the character of Abner! You can just feel the honesty and goodness in him through the dialogue. Great story! Great read!
October 29, 2019
Cora and Abner have a difficult and painful history. Hurt, betrayal and distrust still color their first meeting nearly a decade after he left her without a word. Life has been hard for Cora over the intervening years. She is now a financially struggling mom of six young kids, who will soon need a new place to live for her family. Although her past had been filled with men who used her then left, a bout of drinking to excess, and having kids with three different fathers, Cora is now determined to stand on her own to support her kids. Abner has just purchased a ranch of his own, and has always wanted a large family of his own. He has never forgotten Cora, and no other woman has ever had a place in his heart or his life since he left her behind. Abner’s appearance in town for his grandmother’s funeral isn’t unexpected, but is painful just the same. The hostility between them is hard to withstand, especially by two people who still secretly yearn for the other. Even after his mother departs to live in another state, Abner doesn’t return home to his ranch. He stays to help Cora with her kids and to make sure she and her kids will have a place to stay. Abner wishes he had stayed to listen to Cora all those years ago, and makes a decision to fight to be in her life now. He lost his place in a family long ago, and he desperately wants Cora and her kids to be his family now and in the future. A marriage of convenience and a quick move later, Cora and the kids are now with Abner on his ranch. He hopes they will stay permanently, she believes their marriage is temporary and is determined not to rely on any man again to support her and her kids. Will a marriage of convenience turn into a permanent love match or will it be dissolved?
As with the other books in this series, the hero is the strong, steadfast and loyal type with a protective streak a mile wide and a huge heart. The heroine is a feisty, strong-willed woman with a need for independence and a heart that has been broken before. Cora’s children are scene stealers, and the reader can’t help but empathize with both Cora and Abner. This book is perceptive, insightful and totally captivating. I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
As with the other books in this series, the hero is the strong, steadfast and loyal type with a protective streak a mile wide and a huge heart. The heroine is a feisty, strong-willed woman with a need for independence and a heart that has been broken before. Cora’s children are scene stealers, and the reader can’t help but empathize with both Cora and Abner. This book is perceptive, insightful and totally captivating. I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
October 23, 2019
The story of Cora FIscher, single mother of six children, and Abner Coblantz is a complex one.
They were childhood friends. A friend that Abner fell in love with, and one he believed had betrayed him.
Years later they meet when he returns home for a funeral. He still has love/hate feelings for her, while Cora is down in the dumps , and mother of children from various men.
As we get to know both individuals we realize that there is more to them than meets the eye.
While Cora is searching for independence, she believes that it means going through life alone. Not realizing a team makes life a better place and each individual stronger.
Abner one the other hand, sees in Cora what many miss- a dedicated mother and a broken woman who has made mistakes.
This is a touching, and thought provoking story. As well as another great addition to this series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
They were childhood friends. A friend that Abner fell in love with, and one he believed had betrayed him.
Years later they meet when he returns home for a funeral. He still has love/hate feelings for her, while Cora is down in the dumps , and mother of children from various men.
As we get to know both individuals we realize that there is more to them than meets the eye.
While Cora is searching for independence, she believes that it means going through life alone. Not realizing a team makes life a better place and each individual stronger.
Abner one the other hand, sees in Cora what many miss- a dedicated mother and a broken woman who has made mistakes.
This is a touching, and thought provoking story. As well as another great addition to this series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
April 25, 2023
From Enemies to Married Couple—No Mystery!
In The Cowboy’s Enemy (Sweet Water Ranch book 9), Jessie Gussman delivers another winner! This time the hero is harvest crew member Abner, who I dubbed “ex-Amish Man of Mystery” for his uncanny ability to figure out things his fellow harvesters think are secret. Now it’s Abner himself who doesn’t know what’s going on—in the heart of Cora, the girl he loved 12 years ago, who used him to make his cousin jealous, got pregnant and said he was the father, and made him go from southern Ohio to North Dakota, where he joined Clay Stryker’s harvest crew (book 7) and licked his wounds while refusing to reveal any of his pre-crew life details.
When his Gram dies, Abner gets a call from his half-brother saying his mother wants to see him. Despite his misgivings, he rides his motorcycle to Ohio and finds that Cora is living with his mother, whom she calls “Aunt Sandy”. Aunt Sandy functions best surrounded by beer cans in front of the TV. Six small children call Cora “Mom”; Abner sees no “Dad” and guesses correctly that there are actually three fathers for the six kids. Cora has made so many foolish decisions about men, she’s promised herself that from now on she’ll stand alone, not needing any man, and keep her kids safe from unstable influences and bad examples.
Abner proves to have a knack with kids; the two smallest girls, a toddler and a baby, cling to him, and he puts the oldest boys to work, giving them something productive to do rather then run wild all day. They dig a fire pit, gather sticks, and have hot dogs and s’mores for dinner. Three-year-old Kohlton dares Abner to eat a large worm to win “a fousand kisses from Mommy” and he does so, echoing his consumption of Reina”s truly awful cooking in book 7. Cora talks the kids down to two kisses and the seat next to him at dinner. She pays her debt that night, little dreaming that Abner has waited for her to be his first kiss.
Aunt Sandy moved out of state after Gram’s funeral, leaving Cora and her children homeless. Abner invites them to stay with him, on the condition that they marry before the family moves onto the ranch he bought from Boone in book 8. Cora marries him but still thinks it will be annulled and she’ll leave after she gets a job and can pay rent; Angela, the scheming Nebraskan beauty who messed with both Clay and Boone and ended up as a waitress in the Sweet Water diner, tells her that she’s not meant to stand alone, that God created man and then woman to help him, so she’d be foolish to throw away Abner for a “dumb promise” about being independent. Cora disagrees but becomes Angela’s first friend in town.
Cora has applied for several graphic design jobs to bring in enough income for her to leave Abner’s ranch, and she gets an interview for a job in Cincinnati—close to her home in Ohio, but a day’s drive from Sweet Water. In the hotel that night, Cora realizes that Angela was right—“teamwork makes the dream work”, and she and Abner can be partners in life and marriage without her depending on him for her worth. She returns to Sweet Water determined to tell Abner she’s staying.
At the airport, Abner and all six kids greet her, and she hears that they’re going to get cows and chickens and pigs and cats and a puppy—they had to talk about something, he says ruefully—and they usher her into a house with a nearly finished addition. The girls will get the new room, the boys will get the loft, and Cora can have the bedroom. Abner will sleep, as always, in the barn. But Cora has other plans for him…
The Cowboy’s Enemy has a solid hero, a damaged but changing heroine, and a few funny Amish half-siblings from Abner’s no-longer-Mysterious past. Jessie Gussman doesn’t disappoint! I loved Abner’s compassion and fighting spirit, and I was drawn to Cora although I deeply disagree with her past choices. The Scripture references were delicate but powerful. A truly winning story! I highly recommend it.
In The Cowboy’s Enemy (Sweet Water Ranch book 9), Jessie Gussman delivers another winner! This time the hero is harvest crew member Abner, who I dubbed “ex-Amish Man of Mystery” for his uncanny ability to figure out things his fellow harvesters think are secret. Now it’s Abner himself who doesn’t know what’s going on—in the heart of Cora, the girl he loved 12 years ago, who used him to make his cousin jealous, got pregnant and said he was the father, and made him go from southern Ohio to North Dakota, where he joined Clay Stryker’s harvest crew (book 7) and licked his wounds while refusing to reveal any of his pre-crew life details.
When his Gram dies, Abner gets a call from his half-brother saying his mother wants to see him. Despite his misgivings, he rides his motorcycle to Ohio and finds that Cora is living with his mother, whom she calls “Aunt Sandy”. Aunt Sandy functions best surrounded by beer cans in front of the TV. Six small children call Cora “Mom”; Abner sees no “Dad” and guesses correctly that there are actually three fathers for the six kids. Cora has made so many foolish decisions about men, she’s promised herself that from now on she’ll stand alone, not needing any man, and keep her kids safe from unstable influences and bad examples.
Abner proves to have a knack with kids; the two smallest girls, a toddler and a baby, cling to him, and he puts the oldest boys to work, giving them something productive to do rather then run wild all day. They dig a fire pit, gather sticks, and have hot dogs and s’mores for dinner. Three-year-old Kohlton dares Abner to eat a large worm to win “a fousand kisses from Mommy” and he does so, echoing his consumption of Reina”s truly awful cooking in book 7. Cora talks the kids down to two kisses and the seat next to him at dinner. She pays her debt that night, little dreaming that Abner has waited for her to be his first kiss.
Aunt Sandy moved out of state after Gram’s funeral, leaving Cora and her children homeless. Abner invites them to stay with him, on the condition that they marry before the family moves onto the ranch he bought from Boone in book 8. Cora marries him but still thinks it will be annulled and she’ll leave after she gets a job and can pay rent; Angela, the scheming Nebraskan beauty who messed with both Clay and Boone and ended up as a waitress in the Sweet Water diner, tells her that she’s not meant to stand alone, that God created man and then woman to help him, so she’d be foolish to throw away Abner for a “dumb promise” about being independent. Cora disagrees but becomes Angela’s first friend in town.
Cora has applied for several graphic design jobs to bring in enough income for her to leave Abner’s ranch, and she gets an interview for a job in Cincinnati—close to her home in Ohio, but a day’s drive from Sweet Water. In the hotel that night, Cora realizes that Angela was right—“teamwork makes the dream work”, and she and Abner can be partners in life and marriage without her depending on him for her worth. She returns to Sweet Water determined to tell Abner she’s staying.
At the airport, Abner and all six kids greet her, and she hears that they’re going to get cows and chickens and pigs and cats and a puppy—they had to talk about something, he says ruefully—and they usher her into a house with a nearly finished addition. The girls will get the new room, the boys will get the loft, and Cora can have the bedroom. Abner will sleep, as always, in the barn. But Cora has other plans for him…
The Cowboy’s Enemy has a solid hero, a damaged but changing heroine, and a few funny Amish half-siblings from Abner’s no-longer-Mysterious past. Jessie Gussman doesn’t disappoint! I loved Abner’s compassion and fighting spirit, and I was drawn to Cora although I deeply disagree with her past choices. The Scripture references were delicate but powerful. A truly winning story! I highly recommend it.
December 24, 2022
The Cowboy's Enemy was such a beautiful story!! Jessie Gussman does it again with this sweet romance between Abner and Cora. I was definitely looking forward to this book since Abner was one of the most secretive intriguing characters thanks to us not knowing much about his past. Oh boy, did my heart go out to him. There's certainly pain and guilt from both his childhood and teenage years, but I liked how there was more to it than what he thought. Oh, and when he gets thrown together with Cora? :) Sparks sure were flying. I loved his protective and kind nature towards her children and how good he was with them. I loved learning about Cora, who she was, why she had done the things she had done, and how she still had feelings for Abner. Granted, there's also her desire to change, to do better for her kids, and not depend on a man ever again, but then, this is exactly why I love this author, and the conversation Cora has with Angela and how she ends up working things out is one of my favorite parts of this book (a close second to the last chapter. Yep, that good.)
Of course, what made me enjoy this story as much as I did was definitely having Jay as the narrator. He's always great at bringing the characters to life, and this was no exception. Not only because there were people of all ages here (from little kids to an older woman who's a drunk) but also because there are different accents, and he nailed them all. Seriously, it's always a treat to listen to him, how he performs all the different emotions and makes the listener feel them as well, and I can't wait to listen to more from him.
Overall, a beautiful addition to this Sweet Romance series recommended to fans of the author, narrator, and/or genre. ~ 5 stars!
Of course, what made me enjoy this story as much as I did was definitely having Jay as the narrator. He's always great at bringing the characters to life, and this was no exception. Not only because there were people of all ages here (from little kids to an older woman who's a drunk) but also because there are different accents, and he nailed them all. Seriously, it's always a treat to listen to him, how he performs all the different emotions and makes the listener feel them as well, and I can't wait to listen to more from him.
Overall, a beautiful addition to this Sweet Romance series recommended to fans of the author, narrator, and/or genre. ~ 5 stars!
May 24, 2022
Unputdownable!
Cora was supposedly his enemy since she’d hurt him those many years ago. Abner was supposedly her enemy since he had taken off without looking back before she could explain her actions. A tragic lack of communication between them led to years of hurt, hate, regrets, … This is at times heart wrenching, at other times sweet and playful. But at all times, unputdownable. Cora and Abner finally get the chance to explain their stories after almost a decade and reach an amicable agreement. Then their love for one another is allowed to surface. I really loved this story which shows a side to Abner that we didn’t get a chance see in previous episodes of this series. He is a self sacrificing man who oftentimes showed his wisdom and understanding toward his fellow harvesting crew. Now, in this story, he showed his deeper feelings of his heart. We get to see his feelings of compassion and forgiveness not just for Cora but for himself. I was deeply affected by this book and appreciated Ms Jessie Gussman’s talent for writing this and for Jay Dyess’ talent for performing the voices of the characters. It adds to the character’s dimensions and humanness. Furthermore, we get to see the importance of communication, forgiveness, and compassion. I highly recommend this book/listen for all those lovers of good clean Christian romances.
Cora was supposedly his enemy since she’d hurt him those many years ago. Abner was supposedly her enemy since he had taken off without looking back before she could explain her actions. A tragic lack of communication between them led to years of hurt, hate, regrets, … This is at times heart wrenching, at other times sweet and playful. But at all times, unputdownable. Cora and Abner finally get the chance to explain their stories after almost a decade and reach an amicable agreement. Then their love for one another is allowed to surface. I really loved this story which shows a side to Abner that we didn’t get a chance see in previous episodes of this series. He is a self sacrificing man who oftentimes showed his wisdom and understanding toward his fellow harvesting crew. Now, in this story, he showed his deeper feelings of his heart. We get to see his feelings of compassion and forgiveness not just for Cora but for himself. I was deeply affected by this book and appreciated Ms Jessie Gussman’s talent for writing this and for Jay Dyess’ talent for performing the voices of the characters. It adds to the character’s dimensions and humanness. Furthermore, we get to see the importance of communication, forgiveness, and compassion. I highly recommend this book/listen for all those lovers of good clean Christian romances.
June 7, 2020
The Cowboy's Enemy is another great book by Jessie Gussman. This is book 9 in the series Sweet Water Ranch and featuring characters we have grown to love from the previous books. This story is the private things that Abner has kept secret for several years that come out when his Grandma dies and he goes back to Ohio for her funeral. We find out about the one girl that Abner loved and left in Ohio and why he has never dated since. Cora met Abner when he was enrolled into public school after his father's death and he was sent to his biological mother to raise at 13. This removed him from his Amish community and family although he has held onto his Amish upbringing all his life. But, the secret she told about Abner years ago is why he ran away from her and never had been back. However, Abner knows the Lord works in mysterious ways and this story tells of one of an undying love. It will make you laugh, and cry, and feel that annoying unease when you are waiting like Abner for Cora's decision. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and as the last book. . . we get a "sneak peek" as to Mack's story will be next!!!
October 13, 2021
Another sweet Hallmark type read. This entire series is very clean and innocent with the boy always getting the girl in the end…with many obstacles and feelings and misunderstandings along the way.
Abner and Cora have known each other for a long time and allowed a misunderstanding to keep them states apart from one another. In this book, you find how they were very angry and resentful toward one another and toward the end they grow closer and mature.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Abner and the six kids. I just love the kids and thought they were all so sweet. I also don’t know how the heck Cora did it all before Abner came along and helped! Phew.
Next book is number 10, The Cowboy’s Mistletoe Christmas which is a relationship between Angela and Mack. Angela is Clay’s ex “pen pal” and a preacher’s daughter; Boone nearly married her, too.
Mack - Clay’s work crew member
Abner and Cora have known each other for a long time and allowed a misunderstanding to keep them states apart from one another. In this book, you find how they were very angry and resentful toward one another and toward the end they grow closer and mature.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Abner and the six kids. I just love the kids and thought they were all so sweet. I also don’t know how the heck Cora did it all before Abner came along and helped! Phew.
Next book is number 10, The Cowboy’s Mistletoe Christmas which is a relationship between Angela and Mack. Angela is Clay’s ex “pen pal” and a preacher’s daughter; Boone nearly married her, too.
Mack - Clay’s work crew member
March 28, 2022
I really liked Abner's story. He has always just been a quiet, hard working cowboy on the harvest team. When he goes home to Ohio for his grandmother's funeral, he finds the one woman he has never been able to get over, living in his grandmother's house with his drunken mother and 6 young children. His first instinct is to leave and never come back but he notices the run down condition of the house and feels it is his duty to try to help his birth mother, even though she was never much of a mother to him. Cora has made LOTS of mistakes in her life, leading to the birth of 6 children from 3 different fathers, none of whom stuck around long enough to be of much help to her. Abner has always wanted a large family so he finds it instinctual to pitch in and help. Their story is one of upheaval but I love the happy ending.
January 13, 2023
Pick a number
Cora was duped when she was 19 by two different men that should have had the moral decency to keep their pants zipped, or at the least stood by their actions instead oof just using her. Because of their actions Cora like many of us decided that she was worthless and began to spiral down into a really bad place, finally ending up with 6 children from three different fathers. Along comes Abner since he was hurt by her actions as a teen, comes home to see his grandmother buried, and dealing with a full blown alcoholic mother. The father of the first child returns and tries to hook up with her all but forcing the situation until Abner steps in. Finally clearing the air with Cora from past actions and himself realizing he was partly at fault, settle down to try and start a new family. Excellent book just needs time to sink in and realize what's happening.
Cora was duped when she was 19 by two different men that should have had the moral decency to keep their pants zipped, or at the least stood by their actions instead oof just using her. Because of their actions Cora like many of us decided that she was worthless and began to spiral down into a really bad place, finally ending up with 6 children from three different fathers. Along comes Abner since he was hurt by her actions as a teen, comes home to see his grandmother buried, and dealing with a full blown alcoholic mother. The father of the first child returns and tries to hook up with her all but forcing the situation until Abner steps in. Finally clearing the air with Cora from past actions and himself realizing he was partly at fault, settle down to try and start a new family. Excellent book just needs time to sink in and realize what's happening.
April 23, 2023
This is both an enemies to love and a second chance romance. The circumstances leading up to their reuniting are rough. Both are carrying a lot of baggage and it takes them a while to communicate as they really need to.
It basically took 6 kids for their mom to pull herself together but by the time the book starts, I'd say she is a good mom. And Abner had to humble himself to even be civil toward her yet even so, he couldn't help but assist where he could which indicated that he has a good heart. And the children all felt comfortable with him too.
The lack of communication drove me a little crazy but eventually they manage a happily ever after.
Sex: propositions, lived with men and had 6 kids with 3 different fathers
Language: no
Violence: no
It basically took 6 kids for their mom to pull herself together but by the time the book starts, I'd say she is a good mom. And Abner had to humble himself to even be civil toward her yet even so, he couldn't help but assist where he could which indicated that he has a good heart. And the children all felt comfortable with him too.
The lack of communication drove me a little crazy but eventually they manage a happily ever after.
Sex: propositions, lived with men and had 6 kids with 3 different fathers
Language: no
Violence: no
June 1, 2023
I enjoyed this enemies to lovers romance between Cora and Abner. They were sweethearts when they were teenagers until Cora told a lie about Abner and he left the state before she could make amends. Abner never stopped loving Cora and when he sees her again a decade later at his Grandmother's funeral, she has six children by three different men and not married. She is living with Abner's Mother who is an alcoholic. When Abner helps make repairs on the house and helps Cora with her children, she realizes that he is the first guy who really cares about her and her children and the children love Abner. They get their HEA ending and I highly recommend this book. This is my voluntary and honest review.
May 14, 2020
The Cowboy’s Enemy is an excellent sweet and clean romance. The story of Abner and Cora is beautifully told. It has a different feel than the rest of this series, but it definitely has the emotional pull and, on the flip side, playful banter that I enjoy. Cora’s story is something I’ve seen so often and seen so many people judge. This book is a great reminder that no matter how one bad decision snowballs, God will always be waiting for us to return to him. This amazing series is narrated by Jay Dyess. He gives his listeners a phenomenal experience every single time. Gussman and Dyess are the perfect pairing.
August 1, 2020
Another really good book in the Sweetwater Ranch Series. I really enjoyed listening to Jay Dyess narrate this story on Audible. He brings out the stories and makes them seem so real and brings life to the words on the page. He makes you feel like you are right there among everyone as the story unfolds around you.
Jessie Gussman does an awesome job writing the story and between the two you have a wonderful romance story. As you listen to the other stories you kinda get to know Abner a little and this is his story so you get to know him a lot better. Cora is his first love and he has never ever forgotten her.
A really good book that you will not want to miss
Jessie Gussman does an awesome job writing the story and between the two you have a wonderful romance story. As you listen to the other stories you kinda get to know Abner a little and this is his story so you get to know him a lot better. Cora is his first love and he has never ever forgotten her.
A really good book that you will not want to miss
December 23, 2025
Jessie's books are edifying. I would say they are also light reads, but she does tackle difficult topics. Bad things happen to the characters or because of their choices, but there is redemption, grace, and forgiveness. She weaves in truths about how we should leave as Christians, which serve as reminders as I listen along.
I've listened to her books on YouTube "Say With Jay." He's a great narrator, even for the women's voices. It's the type of book that you can listen to while doing something else. Any can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend starting the series in order as several connect characters and places.
I've listened to her books on YouTube "Say With Jay." He's a great narrator, even for the women's voices. It's the type of book that you can listen to while doing something else. Any can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend starting the series in order as several connect characters and places.
March 29, 2020
Forgiveness Covers a Multitude of Sins
Time has not been kind to either Abner or Cora. They once loved each other, but due to a lie Cora told about Abner, he had left town and not looked back until he had recently returned for his grandmother's funeral.
Cora was still in town...Abner was still in love with her. There was a huge need for forgiveness on both their parts of they were to finally have a future together. It's heartwarming how Abner loved her six children as his very own.
Time has not been kind to either Abner or Cora. They once loved each other, but due to a lie Cora told about Abner, he had left town and not looked back until he had recently returned for his grandmother's funeral.
Cora was still in town...Abner was still in love with her. There was a huge need for forgiveness on both their parts of they were to finally have a future together. It's heartwarming how Abner loved her six children as his very own.
December 14, 2022
A Never Ending Love Song
This sweet and clean modern romance is the ninth in a series. They can be read in any order but the reader will understand the background nuances better by reading them in order. This story is about a man who returns to Ohio for his grandmother's funeral and runs into his forever love who jilted him a decade earlier. The story is written with elements of the Christian faith, but it is not on every page. The story talks about real love, making mistakes, and learning from them. This is a very good, heartwarming story that just makes you smile from the inside out.
This sweet and clean modern romance is the ninth in a series. They can be read in any order but the reader will understand the background nuances better by reading them in order. This story is about a man who returns to Ohio for his grandmother's funeral and runs into his forever love who jilted him a decade earlier. The story is written with elements of the Christian faith, but it is not on every page. The story talks about real love, making mistakes, and learning from them. This is a very good, heartwarming story that just makes you smile from the inside out.
January 23, 2025
In at least 3 books in this series, there was promiscu0us behavior by one or more of the main characters. I know this is true to life in this day and age, but we see it on the news, on TV and other media every day. I'd like to be able to read a book that is free from that...a book that is wholesome and free of sex. Of course, this is my personal opinion. For that reason I could only give these 3 books a 3-star rating. If one could overlook this issue, then the other part of the stories were not bad. There were some good things that resulted in spite of the wrong doings, which shows that God can make something good come from the bad.
October 9, 2025
From the beginning of this story, it was not one of my favorites of Jessie's. I did not like Cora AT ALL, nor did I like that Abner could say he hated her and loved her at the same time. I didn't understand his motivation in staying to help someone who had hurt him so deeply and am not certain that I do now. I also don't know that I believe Cora's explanation for why she did what she did all those years ago, but Jessie kept me interested and invested in how it ended, especially for the children.
May 14, 2020
This one tugged at my heart.
It's different from the style of the other Sweet Water books. With people who are broken in ways I see all around, in every city and small town, making one mistake after another while looking to others for a sense of their own worth.
Don't get me wrong...there's still humor here. That's a God-given gift that Jessie Gussman shares with us in her writing. And since there are six kids in this story, you know there's going to be some fun going on!
It's different from the style of the other Sweet Water books. With people who are broken in ways I see all around, in every city and small town, making one mistake after another while looking to others for a sense of their own worth.
Don't get me wrong...there's still humor here. That's a God-given gift that Jessie Gussman shares with us in her writing. And since there are six kids in this story, you know there's going to be some fun going on!
August 3, 2022
Jessie Gussman sure knows how to write a great series. Love the stories of this series all 11 of them. Abner Coblantz has been friends with most of the guys in the stories. He's been alone for a long time and goes back to Ohio for his grandma funeral. Cora Fischer and her six children are living with his mom. Cora was the one who told a lie and he left years ago but he loved and hated her for it. But he left without knowing why she lied. Great read😁
May 9, 2023
Good clean story, mini years to accomplish. You don’t know until the end, how things are going to be between Abner and Cora. She has six children by four different men. Abner doesn’t care, he just wants a large family. He spent some time with the Amish in Pennsylvania until his brother and father were killed. Abner blames himself. Yes, I do recommend this book. It’s a great book it’s sweet, no ugly words, etc.
December 6, 2023
I love Abner’s story!
I really was curious about Abner and his story after the previous couple of books, and I really loved reading about it. It’s really easy to look back on past mistakes and dwell on them, and not be able to move forward because of that, but, as usual, Jessie Gussman has sown wisdom in everyday words here. “Let’s not look back. We can’t fix anything behind us. But we can go forward. Together.”
I really was curious about Abner and his story after the previous couple of books, and I really loved reading about it. It’s really easy to look back on past mistakes and dwell on them, and not be able to move forward because of that, but, as usual, Jessie Gussman has sown wisdom in everyday words here. “Let’s not look back. We can’t fix anything behind us. But we can go forward. Together.”
February 5, 2020
Lasting love
This was a story of a pretty remarkable guy who knew how to love and be loved. He was very special in the way he could love children who weren' t his, as if they were. I loved the way that love went both ways. Also loved how the story told the way he do naturally helped with the children, great to read!
This was a story of a pretty remarkable guy who knew how to love and be loved. He was very special in the way he could love children who weren' t his, as if they were. I loved the way that love went both ways. Also loved how the story told the way he do naturally helped with the children, great to read!
May 31, 2020
Terrific story of repentance and forgiveness
This is an engaging series of cowboy romances with challenges and the Christian response to adversity. This particular story is one of my favorites.
Making choices involves consequences. The characters are complex and the dialogue ranges from witty to deep and everything in between. Highly recommend.
This is an engaging series of cowboy romances with challenges and the Christian response to adversity. This particular story is one of my favorites.
Making choices involves consequences. The characters are complex and the dialogue ranges from witty to deep and everything in between. Highly recommend.
June 16, 2020
Cora has made wrong choices with men & now has 6 kids. She has woken up to what she needs to do now to make her life better. Then her first love Abner comes back to town. He is so different from the other men who have been in her life. She doesn't know what to make of him. Can they make it together? I loved this story very much. Also I loved Mr. Gussman's reading of it.
September 2, 2021
This is a sweet second chance romance. A man who loves after you hurt him so badly then have 6 children with other men, deserved everything his heart desires and Cora is the luckiest girl in the world to have beautiful, loving, patience and forgiving Man like Abner. A beautiful emotional story.
A received a free audio copy of this book
A received a free audio copy of this book
December 31, 2021
Get your Heart Ready
This is a book about decisions & how they impact our life & those around us. Is there redemption for wrong decisions? Can we repair wrong choices? The reader feels the agony & pleasure of right & wrong choices. Gussman does a nice job of character development & personal agonies of the people in her stories.
This is a book about decisions & how they impact our life & those around us. Is there redemption for wrong decisions? Can we repair wrong choices? The reader feels the agony & pleasure of right & wrong choices. Gussman does a nice job of character development & personal agonies of the people in her stories.
February 7, 2022
Different
A little bit of unexpected. My heart hurt for the one and was somewhat hard to like the action of the other . Kept reminding myself how God would deal with the situation! But as with all Jessie’s books it all worked out with HEA and I didn’t have anything to do with it! 😁
A little bit of unexpected. My heart hurt for the one and was somewhat hard to like the action of the other . Kept reminding myself how God would deal with the situation! But as with all Jessie’s books it all worked out with HEA and I didn’t have anything to do with it! 😁
May 8, 2022
Real love
This was a great story , I enjoyed all your books in this series. The fact of true love and waiting for years to get it, but never underestimate love and its decisions of our lifes. Great story , thank you for your sharing your talent with us all .
Respectively
Joyce Lichtwald
This was a great story , I enjoyed all your books in this series. The fact of true love and waiting for years to get it, but never underestimate love and its decisions of our lifes. Great story , thank you for your sharing your talent with us all .
Respectively
Joyce Lichtwald
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