The Mermaid and the Cowboy (A Second Chance Romance)

The Demon Duchess Series, Book 3

By: Tessa Bowen

Narrated by: Virginia Ferguson

Jeb Jackson, a once famous rodeo star, lives in isolation on his family’s storied ranch in Montana. Until the day a mysterious and complex young woman pays him a visit.

Less of a visit and more like the surprise of his life - an unwelcome one at that. Or so it seems, when the beautiful stranger (who claims to know him) announces she needs “straightening out”.

Now he’s got a drugged-up, freshly-divorced, sequin-encrusted beauty queen passed out in his bed and has no idea what to do with her or himself.

Falling in love seems like the only option.

©2019 Tessa Bowen (P)2020 Tessa Bowen

Cute little story

So, I really thought the story was cute, but I had a hard time with the narrator’s pronunciation of rodeo from the start and her depiction of a rodeo cowboy. The accent was very awkward. I am from Texas and couldn’t relate, so maybe that’s part of it, but I was very distracted by it. Maybe this would have been a better one for me to read because I enjoyed the story. The narrator had a nice voice, and I’m sure she is great in other roles, but I had a hard time reconciling it in this one.

Enjoyable story

Remarkable!

Lorelei Northrup comes from wealth, but she's not intent on flaunting it. In fact, she's the one of her friends who's down to earth and doesn't need to impress. As a 17-year-old, Lorelei has a crush on a champion bronco buster, Jebediah Jackson. She saw his picture on her father's desk and set her sights on meeting him. She was seventeen, a virgin and she wanted Jeb to take care of that for her. She slips past security and makes it to his dressing room, but he tells her to come back in 8 years, when she's old enough. Now, eight years later, Lorelei is newly divorced, high on Xanax and desperate to get to Jeb's door in the mountains of Montana. She didn't know who else to turn to in order to get past the heartbreak of her husband's infidelity. He has no idea who she is at first, when she pounds so hard on his door that she could wake the dead. He can see that she's a beauty and there's something about her, but he wants nothing to do with a relationship. His last relationship ended in heartbreak when his girlfriend, Sophie, was killed in a tragic car accident. He simply can't risk a repeat of the devastation it brought to him and his brother, John. He thinks Lorelei is a fancy society lady, the farthest thing from a woman who belongs on a ranch, until one night when she assists in the birth of a baby lamb. It's a joyful experience for her and she's amazed and excited at the miracle of birth. But Jeb sticks to his guns and makes every excuse in the world that they can't be together. He doesn't do relationships, remember? After his "physical therapist" arrives to give him his massage, she's not sure he values her enough and packs to leave. Jeb put up just a little bit of a fight, thinking this was what Lor truly wanted so it's the right decision. He's miserable and realizes that he made a mistake by letting her go and needs her in his life. What if she's moved on...what if she no longer needs him like he needs her. The ending is sweet and the epilogue is just perfect. The reappearance of his brother, John, his sister-in-law Abigail and his niece, Daphne (Ducky) is a treat!
I listened to the audiobook and Virginia Ferguson does another magnificent job. She has a dynamic voice that gives each character not only a voice, but a personality as well. My favorite will always be Ducky!

Heartwarming and Funny!

I asked to receive this free review Audible book and wrote this unbiased review. Tessa Bowen has written a captivating story that is funny and heartwarming. She has a delightful plot and character development. Lorelai is a spunky tell it like it is woman. However, she isn't obnoxious or too bossy. She told Jeb that she wanted him when yalshe was 17 but he said to come back in 8 years and that's what she did. You can't say that she isn't determined. The banter between them is so much fun. Both characters are loving and caring. Jeb was hurt before and doesn't want to be hurt again. The narrator does mispronounce a few words but her narration is so good that I can overlook it. She is spot on with her portrayal of the characters' emotions and personalities. She brings out the comedy of the situations. I highly recommend this Audible book, if you need to listen to a feel good story full of romance and comedy. This book will lift your spirits.

Love it!!

I love this story!! It’s amazing!! Tessa did a great job!! Virginia Ferguson did a good work with her voice!! I love Tessa Bowen audiobooks!!

Great Story!

I enjoyed this story, the third book in Tessa Bowen’s The Demon Duchess Series. It was so nice to see that Jeb ends up with his happily ever after. Although the narrator did a good job in narrating the bulk of the story, she totally failed in her pronunciation of rodeo—it was totally wrong for a southerner living in the United States. Every time I heard her pronunciation, it was like fingernails on a chalk board. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.