The Farmer Takes His Wife

A Bitterpill, Texas 78020 Novel

By: Barbara Catlin

Narrated by: Jim Cooper

Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Married years ago...for 48 heavenly hours.

The couple is together again - for the first time since the annulment - when Grandma Margaret’s will bequeaths the farm to beloved Whitney “and her husband”. The house-sharing fiasco is a no-go for Whitney, who plans to transform the property into a charitable venture, but Drew yearns to get back to the earth. Each is determined to call the other’s bluff.

Yet Drew is no farmer in the dell, and Whitney’s noble cause seems on shaky ground, too. Beyond that, there’s this irritating, fiery chemistry between them....

If you yearn for uplifting, unpredictable, humorous romance...complete with characters who come alive...Barbara Catlin is your new go-to author! Fans are immediately drawn to the small-town charm of her authentic, pulse-pounding novels. To her sweet yet sensual contemporary stories that at the same time deliver cleaner-than-usual language and old-fashioned values galore.

So if you’ve enjoyed the past writings of “The Three Ms” - Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, Ava Miles - but are clamoring for something fresh and exciting, turn to award-winning author Barbara Catlin. Fall in love with the captivating heroes and heroines and with all the endearing characters of tiny Bitterpill, Texas 78020.

Author's note: Since I write small-town Texas Hill Country novels, all my stories are the polar opposite of, say, Beverly Hills, 90210. So I wanted to come up with a series title that gives you, my listeners, a pretty good clue of what you're getting yourself into - without even a peek at the book’s blurb. Thus, Bitterpill, Texas 78020.

A wild and woolly battle of the sexes is raging in the ruggedly beautiful, rolling Texas Hill Country. Everyday life in the seemingly sleepy little "cow town" of Bitterpill is a soap opera - country style!

©2018 Barbara Catlin (P)2018 Barbara Catlin

Farmer Takes His Wife

An Excellent well written book that grabs your attention . I couldn't wait to listen to more. Some love truly never dies.

Cute Love Story

If you love a great read with a second chance with first love, this is the book for you.

The Farmer takes a Wife

This was a sweet story with a great narration.. The rich smooth vice made it easy to listen too. It was worth the time and money to read and listen to the book. I will be looking for more books by these people.

good book

very good book. I really enjoyed listening to it. I am excited to read the rest of the series.

"Come on. It'll be fun."

Whitney and Drew are still irresistible to each other twelve years after the annulment of their two-day teenage marriage. Of course, they won't admit it. And Heaven forbid they would be honest with each other, holding nothing back. Then they really mess up when they assume they know each other's minds and hearts. It will take a while to clear the tracks and get the True Love Express back on track.

This is a story you'll want to grab hold of and snuggle with. Drew is a dreamer, a techie who thinks he can learn to be a farmer by reading manuals. Whitney wants to switch from writing articles to running a camp for children of soldiers lost in combat. Both have goals and challenges. Whitney's godson, Kirby, and her friend Cassie's son, Jack, add a light touch and, at the same time, demonstrate the need for the camp. There's also an "Oh no!" moment that I took for a huge speed bump.

I voluntarily listened to an audio copy of this book and the views expressed are my honest opinions. I really enjoy Jim Cooper's narration, especially of children's and senior's voices. Each is distinct to the character. But every time I listened, I fell asleep in a different place and wasn't sure what I had missed. So, I bought the Kindle edition! Either way, you will enjoy it as I did,

This Farmer Had Me at Hello

I listened to this wonderful story and loved every moment of it. Ms. Catlin develops her characters well, and living in a small town myself, her setting of Bitterpill TX is exactly how small towns are. Apparently the entire town has a vested interest in seeing this couple back together and will meddle to do so. I did not expect this to be a second chance romance but that is exactly what it is.
Drew and Whitney were married for two days when the grandparents who raised her demanded they get an annulment. Wanting to please her family, she broke both her and Drew's hearts, got the annulment, and left Bitterpill for college. Now the grandparents are gone, bringing both of them back to town, where the will throws Whitney and Drew back together as the co-inheritors of the family farm. However, both of them have drastically different ideas of what to use the land for.
Neither of the couple has been in a serious long-term relationship since their annulment, whether it was driven by career choices or a broken heart is unclear, I prefer to think the latter. Drew and Whitney being thrown together is a funny, heart-warming story full of sexual tension, regrets, secrets, hope, and love. The story is a well-played game of cat and mouse, both of them at first fighting the inevitable. Drew knows almost from the beginning he wants Whitney, but the question is can he succeed? The secondary characters add some interesting twists and turns to the story and no doubt have some stories of their own coming. I would love to read/listen to more from this author.
Jim Cooper does an amazing job of voicing all the characters in the book and the humor in his voice when the shenanigans take place in the story put a smile on this listener's face. I'll be looking for more stories narrated by him and more stories written by this author

Best I've heard since this writer's earlier one!

I swear — while I was listening to this book, it felt like I was watching a movie!! You got the full flavor of each and every one of the characters, not to mention the memorable little Texas Hill Country town she reveals with such authenticity. Its citizens are funny as they can be...without coming across as silly, which is rare.

Barbara Catlin has become my favorite author (her natural way with dialogue rings SO-O-O true), and I really enjoy Jim Cooper’s smooth narration, as well (the first love scene, in particular, knocked my socks off!).

My advice to fans of contemporary Western romance? GET THIS AUDIOBOOK — you’ll be super-happy you did. And in the meantime, I’ll be on the edge of my car seat waiting for the 3rd installment from Bitterpill, Texas 78020!!!

First true love

A heartfelt story of a young couple who parts for 12 years until they both inherit a farm. Though they fight their attraction since they are unsure of their paths in life, that crazy thing called love creeps in. Sacrifice and truth is what will be needed. I received a complimentary audio and this review is voluntary.

Your world needs time in this zipcode

I read predominantly paranormal scorching romance, so when I saw these books I wasn't sure they were for me. I kept seeing them pop up as recommended and that was good.

In these brittle times reading is my escape and I found great romance here. The characters were infused with every good facet a person needs. All their hopes and dreams played across the chapters. All the second guesses and hindsight quandaries played torturously with their hearts.

The title tells you what happens but the chapters paint beautifully how it all happens.

Great secondary characters, too. I was impressed with the level of editing and writing with this Author. I've hit a long run of poorly edited books and this book shone for its clarity.

I love this author AND this series!

I adore the citizens of tiny, gossipy Bitterpill, Texas--ALMOST as much as I do the hero and heroine in this, the 2nd standalone in the series! (I love the narrator's voice, too. It's really down to earth.) So do yourself a big favor. Don't miss this one!! It's an excellent audio that has everything I look for in a book: characters that come alive...along with perfect doses of humor and emotion!
NOTE: I was given a free review copy of the audiobook, at my request, and have voluntarily left this review.