Betting on Hope

Written by Debra Clopton

Narrated by Rebecca Gibel

One clutzy advice columnist.

One champion cowboy.

And an entire small town rooting for love.

Advice columnist Maggie Hope never dreamed she’d be shaking hands with champion horse trainer Tru Monahan over a high-stakes bet, especially one that involves horses. And saddles. And everything else a city girl like Maggie feels uncomfortable around. But after filling in for a coworker and interviewing the handsome cowboy, she finds herself doing just that. Anything to save her advice column.

Despite Maggie’s two left feet, Tru is bound and determined to bring out her inner cowgirl by teaching her to ride a cutting horse, trained to separate cattle from the rest of the herd. While her riding improves, their attraction intensifi es, but Tru knows he can never let her into his heart—for her own good.

In Wishing Springs, a community full of meddling but well-meaning townsfolk, Maggie discovers the home she’s always longed for. But she’s holding something back—a secret that could destroy her reputation and any future she’s ever hoped for with the cowboy she mightust love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Dec 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9780840706287

Debra Clopton

Debra Clopton is a multi-award winning novelist who was first published in 2005 and has more than 22 novels to her credit. Along with her writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra is the author of the acclaimed Mule Hollow Matchmaker Series, the place readers tell her they wish was real. Her goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words. Visit her online at www.debraclopton.com, Facebook: debra.clopton, Twitter: @debraclopton.  

Reviews for Betting on Hope

[nancynova · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Bookbox; strangely I had already read the 2nd in the series. A clutzy columnist fills in for her friend in a televised interview with a hunky cowboy, and somehow during the interview she bets him that he can't teach her to ride a cutting horse. Her publisher thinks it's a wonderful idea, so here she is in Wishing Springs, Texas for 2 months to learn everything she needs to know.

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in the small town of Wishing Springs, TX, Betting on Hope is the first novel in Debra Clopton's Four of Hearts Ranch series featuring the Monahan brothers. It is an overall sweet and heartwarming love story that fans of Christian fiction are sure to enjoy.

Maggie Hope is an introverted advice columnist who is out of her element when she is forced to step in front of the camera when she fills in during an interview with Tru Monahan. She is also a little clumsy and her first meeting with Tru includes several embarrassing mishaps. Her nervousness during their interview leads to a surprising challenge that neither of them plan to act on but Maggie's boss and Tru's sponsor think that the bet would garner both of them some much needed publicity. City girl Maggie is like a fish out of water on Tru's ranch, but with both their careers on the line, she sets aside her apprehension and concentrates on winning the bet.

Maggie has not had an easy life but she has an optimistic outlook and sunny disposition. She is also very kind-hearted and compassionate and this shows in the advice she gives to her readers. Maggie lacks confidence in unfamiliar situations and this coupled with her fears makes her very uneasy about having to follow through on the bet. However, the biggest obstacle that Maggie must overcome is her longstanding trust issues.

Tru is a hardworking cowboy whose finds his reputation as ladies' man rather embarrassing. He, along with his brothers Bo and Jarrod, inherited the family ranch after their parents' death and unbeknownst to anyone, his father had mortgaged it to the hilt. All three men have been working hard to pay off the massive debts, so Tru has to do what his sponsors ask of him. He gently encourages Maggie to overcome her fears but he remains frustrated by her continued lack of confidence in herself.

Tru and Maggie harbor misconceptions about each other but they quickly and easily clear up some of their early misunderstandings. They share a mutual attraction, but for the longest time, they avoid acting on it. When Tru receives devastating news, he pulls back from Maggie, which leaves her understandably upset and confused since he refuses to give her an explanation. Maggie also has a secret she has been keeping, but when she is threatened by someone from her past, she turns to Tru for some much needed advice.

The small town setting is perfect for the story and it is quite enjoyable getting to know its residents. The townspeople are quite colorful and a little eccentric, but they are very likable. They are a little nosy and over involved in each other lives, but it is also quite obvious they genuinely care about their friends and neighbors.

Betting on Hope is a lovely romance with a very appealing cast of characters. Debra Clopton does an excellent job keeping the storyline fresh and unpredictable with a few unexpected plot twists. It is an overall wonderful beginning to the Four of Hearts Ranch series and I am very much looking forward to reading Bo and Jarrod's novels.

[mbarkman_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5 Stars ***** out of 5Contemporary RomanceNo, this is not a book about gambling, though I have been known to say that farmers and ranchers gamble every day with high stakes. The title drew me...Betting and Hope in the same breath? Even now, after I am done the book, and understand what the editor was trying to portray, I am not sure if you as my readers would pick it up. The handsome cowboy on the cover in deep concentration is irresistible, and I know the author is a great one. If you enjoy humor in your romance novels, such as Mary Connealy writes, you want to remember the name Debra Compton. She has a new fresh voice with her own brand of humor.The novel is well written, and I thoroughly loved getting to know the people of Wishing Springs. Just as we interact with many people, each with their own issues, so do Maggie and Tru, giving the story depth and interest. I look forward to reviewing more books by Debra, and hope you grow to love her, tooThank you to the author Debra Clopton, Amy Lathrop at Litfuse Publicity Group and TNZFiction for the opportunity to read this book. I was given a free book in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions are my own.

[rhonda1111 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4 STARS This is a nice set up for a new series of stories from Debra Clopton. I like the new characters and town. It starts out with a interview and ends up with a bet between the two main characters. Maggie Hope has been forced to step in and interview Tru Monahan. Maggie is a newspaper writer for a advice. She is nervous to be on camera. Tru has trained cutting horses and is a champion. He says he can train anyone and Maggie says want to bet. Tru sponsers love the idea. So does Maggie's boss. They are two have two months to train Maggie. Maggie is afraid of horses. She has never been around them. Maggie does not trust men. Maggie had a tough childhood. Tru feels like Maggie set him up. He and his brothers are trying to save the ranch after their dad's death. They also care for their grandfather who has alzheimers. Betting Hope has some humor, drama and deals with some tough subjects. Like Alzheimer, teen pregnancy. In a positive way. I would read more of A Four of Hearts Ranch books. I like Debra Clopton's books. I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and in return I agreed to give Betting on Hope a honest review.