Jodi Thomas Popular Books

Jodi Thomas Biography & Facts

Jodi Thomas (born Amarillo, Texas) is the pen name of Jodi Koumalats, an American author of historical romance novels, most of which are set in Texas. In 2006, she was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Biography Jodi Thomas is a fifth-generation Texan, whose grandmother was born in Texas in a covered wagon. She grew up in Amarillo, Texas and moved to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University. She has a master's degree in Family Studies.Thomas married Tom Koumalats and spent several years travelling while he served in the United States Army. The couple then returned to Amarillo and had two sons. Both husband and wife became teachers, and for the next fifteen years Thomas taught family living at Amarillo High School.In 1984, worried that teacher salaries would be insufficient to save for her children's college education, Thomas began writing. Her first published work was an article for the Oklahoma Daily about the Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. She also sold many short stories for children, most averaging about 244 words. By 1988, Thomas had begun writing in earnest after work. When she sold her first book, publishers suggested that her surname, Koumalats, was too ethnic. As a compromise, she took her husband's first name as her pen name.Thomas's first novel, Beneath the Texas Sky, met with critical success. It won a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Western Romance and was designated a National Press Women Novel of the Year. By 1991, Thomas was able to quit teaching to become a full-time writer. She has won three Romance Writers of America RITA Awards,–the highest award given to romance novelists– in 1992, 1995, and 2006. Her third win, for The Texan's Reward, led to her immediate induction into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Thomas has been nominated for RITAs several other times. Her novels have been translated into at least six languages. Several of her novels have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List or the USAToday Bestseller List.In 2003, Thomas became the writer-in-residence at West Texas A&M University. She was only the second writer-in-residence to be appointed. Books Thomas began writing historical romances in the early 1980s because she was dissatisfied with the ones she had read. In many cases, the romances she picked up contained historical errors or relationships that she thought were implausible. Her own novels draw on family stories of living in Texas, as well as months of research for each. The majority of her novels are set in Texas, and many contain the word "Texas" or "Texan" in the title.Although most of her novels are historical or contemporary romances, with Widows of Wichita County Thomas branched into mainstream women's fiction. Awards 1988 - National Press Women's Novel of the Year, Beneath the Texas Sky 1990 - (Texas) Panhandle Professional Writers Best Novel, Northern Star 1990 - Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. best novel, Northern Star 1991 - Romance Writers of America (RWA) RITA Award for Best Historical Romance, The Tender Texan 1994 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Historical Romance, To Tame a Texan's Heart 1998 - Romantic Time Magazine Career Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to women's fiction over the past ten years 1999 - Romantic Times Magazine Career Achievement Award for Outstanding Fiction 2002 - Named a Texas Tech University Distinguished Alumna 2005 - National Reader's Choice Award, Finding Mary Blaine 2006 - Romance Writers of America (RWA) RITA Award,The Texan's Reward 2006 - Inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of FameBibliography The Wife Lottery Series The Texan's Wager, 2002 When a Texan Gambles, 2003 A Texan's Luck, 2004 The Texan's Reward, 2005The McLain Series The Texan's Touch, 1998 To Kiss a Texan, 1999 To Wed in Texas, 2000 Twilight in Texas, 2001 The Texan's Dream, 2001The Whispering Mountain Series Texas Rain, 2006 Texas Princess, 2007 Tall, Dark, and Texan, 2008 The Lone Texan, 2009 Texas Blue, 2011 Wild Texas Rose, 2012 Promise Me Texas, 2013The Harmony Series Welcome to Harmony, 2010 - Book 1 - Harmony Series Somewhere Along the Way, 2010 - Book 2 - Harmony Series The Comforts of Home, 2011 - Book 3 - Harmony Series Just Down the Road, 2012 - Book 4 - Harmony Series Chance of a Lifetime, 2013 - Book 5 - Harmony Series Can't Stop Believing, 2013 - Book 6 - Harmony Series Betting the Rainbow, 2014 - Book 7 - Harmony Series A Place Called Harmony (Series Prequel), 2014 - Book 8 - Harmony Series One True Heart, April 7, 2015 - Book 9 - Harmony SeriesThe Ransom Canyon Series Winter's Camp, 2015 Ransom Canyon, 2015 Rustler's Moon, 2016 Lone Heart Pass, 2016 Sunrise Crossing, August 2016 Wild Horse Springs, January 2017 Indigo Lake, July 2017The Historical Series Beneath the Texas Sky, 1988 Northern Star, 1990 The Tender Texan, 1991 Prairie Song, 1992 Cherish the Dream, 1993 The Texan and the Lady, 1994 To Tame a Texan's Heart, 1994 Forever in Texas, 1995 Texas Love Song, 1996 Two Texas Hearts, 1997The Contemporary Series The Widows of Wichita County, 2003 Finding Mary Blaine, 2004 The Secrets of Rosa Lee, 2005 Twisted Creek, 2008 Rewriting Monday, 2009Anthologies Sweet Hearts, 1993 A Country Christmas, 1993 How to Lasso a Cowboy, 2004 Give Me a Texan, 2008 Give Me a Cowboy, 2009 Give Me a Texas Ranger, 2010 Give Me a Texas Outlaw, 2011 A Texas Christmas, 2011 Be My Texas Valentine, 2012 One Texas Night, 2013 Boots Under Her Bed, 2014References External links Jodi Thomas Official Website. Discover the Jodi Thomas popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Jodi Thomas books.

Best Seller Jodi Thomas Books of 2024

  • Away From It All synopsis, comments

    Away From It All

    Judy Astley

    Fans of Trisha Ashley, Jenny Colgan and Milly Johnson will love this irresistible and uplifting read in which two differing world views collide from muchloved and everpopular autho...

  • A Husband for Holly synopsis, comments

    A Husband for Holly

    Jodi Thomas

    An unexpected love warms a woman’s heart in this enchanting Christmas romance from New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas.Holly, a beautiful Texas tomboy, gets more than she...

  • The Rivals synopsis, comments

    The Rivals

    Joan Johnston

    New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston brings to life an unforgettable love story between two strongwilled people from different worlds in her thrilling new novel featurin...

  • Finding Mary Blaine synopsis, comments

    Finding Mary Blaine

    Jodi Thomas

    Prominent Attorney’s Wife Killed In Bombing The morning’s newspaper headline leaves Blaine Anderson reeling. Only a few hours ago she’d dragged herself, dazed and bleeding, from th...

  • Picnic in Someday Valley synopsis, comments

    Picnic in Someday Valley

    Jodi Thomas

    The charming and uplifting new novel from the legendary author of dozens of unforgettable romances! Travel to the small town of Honey Creek where ties run deep and happiness is jus...

  • Luckiest Cowboy of All synopsis, comments

    Luckiest Cowboy of All

    Carolyn Brown

    A secret baby brings a second chance for love. Carlene Varner's homecoming isn't exactly going according to plan. She thought she'd have some time to adjust before introducing he...

  • Promise Me Texas synopsis, comments

    Promise Me Texas

    Jodi Thomas

    In this novel in the Whispering Mountain series, New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas returns to Texas with a historical romance that sets two unlikely hearts on fire...On...

  • Texas Blue synopsis, comments

    Texas Blue

    Jodi Thomas

    From the New York Times bestselling author of the Harmony McLain and Whispering Moutain series'Gambling man Lewton Paterson wants to marry into a respectable family. After fleecing...

  • Prairie Marriages synopsis, comments

    Prairie Marriages

    Debbie Macomber

    Together for the first time in one box set, two classic Western romances from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.MontanaFirst published in 1998Her grandfather wan...

  • Christmas Eve Cowboy synopsis, comments

    Christmas Eve Cowboy

    Diana Palmer, Delores Fossen & Kate Pearce

    Cowboys and Christmas are an unbeatable combination in this charming western anthology helmed by New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmerone of America’s most beloved romance...

  • Toughest Cowboy in Texas synopsis, comments

    Toughest Cowboy in Texas

    Carolyn Brown

    A sassy, laughoutloud secondchance romance from USA Today bestseller Carolyn Brown, author of The Strawberry Hearts Diner and The Ladies' Room . The last time Lila Harris was in Ha...

  • Excess Baggage synopsis, comments

    Excess Baggage

    Judy Astley

    Let bestselling author Judy Astley sweep you away with this insightful, uplifting and hilarious novel where a family holiday turns into more of a torment than a treat... Perfect fo...

  • The Right Thing synopsis, comments

    The Right Thing

    Judy Astley

    Let bestselling author Judy Astley sweep you away with this insightful and uplifting gem of a novel about the important things in life. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Milly John...

  • Home by Morning synopsis, comments

    Home by Morning

    Kaki Warner

    The awardwinning author of Where the Horses Run makes her eagerly anticipated return to Heartbreak Creek for the final book in a trilogy of soulstirring historical romance.Thomas R...

  • Twisted Creek synopsis, comments

    Twisted Creek

    Jodi Thomas

    “Twisted Creek will weave its way around the reader’s heart. Compelling and beautifully written, it is exactly the kind of heart wrenching, emotional story one has come to expect f...

  • The Widows of Wichita County synopsis, comments

    The Widows of Wichita County

    Jodi Thomas

    Apart from sharing the same zip code, Randi Howard, Anna Montano, Meredith Allen, Helena Whitworth and Crystal Howard have absolutely nothing in commonuntil a fiery explosion on a ...

  • Just Down the Road synopsis, comments

    Just Down the Road

    Jodi Thomas

    Harmony, Texas, is a small town where dreams are born. As the residents face unexpected endings and new beginnings, they also come face to face with themselvesand what’s most impor...

  • Seven For A Secret synopsis, comments

    Seven For A Secret

    Judy Astley

    If you like Jenny Colgan, Milly Johnson and Trisha Ashley, you will love this brilliantly funny romantic comedy buzzing with speculation and scandal from bestselling author Judy As...

  • One True Heart synopsis, comments

    One True Heart

    Jodi Thomas

    Join New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas in Harmony, Texasa small town where love blooms and secrets of the past threaten to alter the future… Millanie McAllen is always ...

  • To Kiss a Texan synopsis, comments

    To Kiss a Texan

    Jodi Thomas

    Two tortured souls find a second chance at happiness in this compelling western historical romance in New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas’ McLain series.Wes McLain return...

  • A French Affair synopsis, comments

    A French Affair

    Susan Lewis

    Some secrets are too devastating to be told...When Natalie Moore is killed in a freak accident in France her mother the very poised and elegant Jessica knows instinctively there ...

  • In Bloom synopsis, comments

    In Bloom

    Fern Michaels, Lori Foster & Carolyn Brown

    #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaelsone of the most beloved authors of our timeis joined by two New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors in a springthemed ant...

  • When a Texan Gambles synopsis, comments

    When a Texan Gambles

    Jodi Thomas

    In the second romance in the Wife Lottery series, New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas tells an emotionally powerful story about a marriage of convenience that quickl...

  • Sunday at the Sunflower Inn synopsis, comments

    Sunday at the Sunflower Inn

    Jodi Thomas

    Readers have fallen in love with Jodi Thomas’s Honey Creek series, featuring an “inviting setting and quirky, goodhearted characters” (Publishers Weekly). With tender romance, adve...

  • Lone Heart Pass synopsis, comments

    Lone Heart Pass

    Jodi Thomas

    The Ransom Canyon series is coming soon to Netflix starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly!Where family bonds are made and broken, and where young love sparks as old flames grow dim,...

  • Indigo Lake synopsis, comments

    Indigo Lake

    Jodi Thomas

    The Ransom Canyon series is coming soon to Netflix starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly!Two families long divided by an ancient feud. Can a powerful love finally unite them?Blade ...

  • Once There Was a Lawman synopsis, comments

    Once There Was a Lawman

    Diana Palmer

    Christmas and romance are a combination even the most jaded tough guy can’t resist in this charming contemporary western tale from the New York Times bestselling author. Perfect fo...

  • Texas Princess synopsis, comments

    Texas Princess

    Jodi Thomas

    New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas presents a captivating novel in the Whispering Mountain series, featuring a reclusive rancher and the woman destined to win his heart....

  • Montana synopsis, comments

    Montana

    Debbie Macomber

    A classic story of starting over and learning to love again When Molly learns that her grandfather is sick, she packs up her two sons without a second thou...

  • Tall, Dark, and Texan synopsis, comments

    Tall, Dark, and Texan

    Jodi Thomas

    A lone wolf meets the woman who is his destiny in this Whispering Mountain romance from New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas.Teagen McMurray would ride to hell and back to...

  • To Wed in Texas synopsis, comments

    To Wed in Texas

    Jodi Thomas

    New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas continues her McLain series with the story of a man in need of a helping hand and the woman who gives him more than he ever expec...

  • The Touch Of Fire synopsis, comments

    The Touch Of Fire

    Linda Howard

    The New York Times bestselling author of Cover of Night returns to her Western Ladies series with this passionate and suspenseful romance between a doctor and an outlaw.Annie Parke...

  • All Inclusive synopsis, comments

    All Inclusive

    Judy Astley

    Do the friendships you make on holiday have anything to do with real life? It might be sensible to hope that they don't!! Bestselling author Judy Astley has written another highly...

  • Texas Rain synopsis, comments

    Texas Rain

    Jodi Thomas

    New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas delivers a tender tale of the Old West, a handsome Texas Ranger, and a mysterious woman fleeing a terrible fate in the first powerful ...

  • The Secrets of Rosa Lee synopsis, comments

    The Secrets of Rosa Lee

    Jodi Thomas

    From New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas comes a readerfavorite story of a life, a legacy and a love that has the power to change a community. Originally published in 200...

  • Western Hearts synopsis, comments

    Western Hearts

    Debbie Macomber & Jodi Thomas

    Two emotional stories of finding home in the WestMontana by Debbie MacomberWhen Molly learns that her grandfather is ill, she packs up her sons without a second thought and makes t...

  • Christmas in Winter Valley synopsis, comments

    Christmas in Winter Valley

    Jodi Thomas

    The Ransom Canyon series is coming soon to Netflix starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly!Ransom Canyon welcomes you back for a Christmas that has everything you’re looking for: rom...

  • Twilight in Texas synopsis, comments

    Twilight in Texas

    Jodi Thomas

    New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas presents the story of a love divided by secrets in this stirring historical romance in the McLain series.It was love at first sight. W...

  • Stands A Calder Man synopsis, comments

    Stands A Calder Man

    Janet Dailey

    A bittersweet and romantic Western novel in the Calder series from the New York Times bestselling author of This Calder Range. Webb Calder fought the newcomers who rushed to claim ...

  • Midnight Bet synopsis, comments

    Midnight Bet

    Jodi Thomas

    From the New York Times bestselling author of the Harmony McLain and Whispering Moutain seriesWhen cousins Rick and Lizzy Matheson of Harmony, Texas, wind up on the wrong side of a...

  • Netochka Nezvanova synopsis, comments

    Netochka Nezvanova

    Fyodor Dostoyevsky

    Netochka Nezvanova a 'Nameless Nobody' tells the story of a childhood dominated by her stepfather, Efimov, a failed musician who believes he is a neglected genius. The young girl...

  • Yankee Wife synopsis, comments

    Yankee Wife

    Linda Lael Miller

    New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller’s classic follows a Civil War nurse as she embarks on a marriage with a heardheaded man she doesn’t know.Lydia McQuire’s courage...

  • Rewriting Monday synopsis, comments

    Rewriting Monday

    Jodi Thomas

    From New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas comes a suspenseful romance about woman seeking a second chance at life and love.   Reporter Pepper Malone moved to Bai...