They’ve been best friends forever. When violent weather sparks an unexpected attraction, will they risk their friendship for a chance at a lifetime love?
Marlowe Glass happily accepts the responsibility of bringing up her orphaned niece. But the struggling stepmom reaches the end of her rope when a terrifying storm destroys her house. So she doesn’t hesitate to accept her best friend’s offer of … destroys her house. So she doesn’t hesitate to accept her best friend’s offer of temporary lodging.
Handsome farmer Clark Hudson longs to be free from his ex-wife’s manipulations. Although preparing to fight for custody of his son, he jumps at the chance to help out his best gal pal from way back in high school. But when their “forever-friends” bond turns complicated as they face their unexpected attraction, the upstanding man fears giving in to his heart might ruin a beautiful connection.
As Marlowe grapples with rebuilding or cutting her losses, she worries she’ll mess up the relationship she holds most dear.
And when Clark’s former spouse makes money-grubbing demands, the single father must risk it all to guarantee them both a loving future.
Can a history of close companionship unite two souls for a lifetime?
Best Friends in the Show Me State is the wholesome first book in the Cowboy Crossing Western Sweet Romance series. If you like Christian-themed stories, delightful discoveries, and true devotion, then you’ll adore Jessie Gussman’s clean courtship. Buy Best Friends in the Show Me State for pure romance that’s full of faith and loads of small-town fun!
Reviews for Best Friends in the Show Me State:
★★★★★ “Jessie has done it again with loveable characters, a wonderful town and warm love story!” – Midwest girl
★★★★★ “I appreciate how the role of wife and mother was extolled in this book in a day when that traditional role has been mocked.” – nanc
★★★★★ “The plot and characters pulled me in right away. I appreciated several messages the author wrapped throughout the different scenarios. Enjoy this story as Marlowe and Clark discover that their friendship provides a strong foundation for a special relationship.” – A. Violine
★★★★★ “Jessie Gussman gets more mileage out of the first real kiss in this story than I’ve seen in any other romance stories I’ve read including some that were not so clean. WOW!” – Jim
★★★★★ “One of my favorite bits though is when Marlowe has to make a decision about her future. Both things she wants are good things, but she is counseled to choose the path God wants her to be on. I love that it’s pointed out that distractions aren’t always bad things. I’m a firm believer that sometimes our choices aren’t between good and bad, but between good, better and best!” – Lisa
Books in the Cowboy Crossing series:
- Best Friends in the Show Me State
- Sold! in the Show Me State
- A Secret Baby in the Show Me State
- The Beast Gets His Cowgirl in the Show Me State
- A Marriage of Convenience in the Show Me State
- A Second Chance in the Show Me State
- A Mistletoe Mishap in the Show Me State
- His Best Friend’s Sister in the Show Me State
- The Cowboy Finds Love in the Show Me State
more
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked:
• The author caught my attention right from the beginning and drew me into the story with the tornado threat.
• Marlowe and Ckark were characters that you wanted to discover more about as you read their story.
• The minor players in the story added depth to the storyline and were well developed, especially Huck and Kylie. Kids always add such a cute factor.
• The descriptions of locations and emotions were well done, easy to visualize, and to feel. I felt a part of the scenes.
• The pacing of the story was neither too slow nor too fast. There was a smooth, coherent flow to this book.
• This story had a satisfying ending.
• This novel was a clean read.
• I did not find this western Christian romance preachy. Religion was just a natural part of the characters’ lives. No lectures.
I was given an advance copy by the author. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own. I will really enjoy reading more books by this author.
Neighbors who have known each other for years but are only friends. They help each other out when raising their son & daughter. Then they realize they are in love. A good story.
I received an ARC of Best Friends in the Show Me State from the author and I’m voluntary leaving my honest review
I enjoyed the story but its not one of my favorites by Jessie. I always like when a story is a best friends to lovers and/ has kinds in them. I know this gonna sound weird but I liked how and why Clark’s ex (Huck’s mom) came back that situation add spice to the story even though i still disliked her.
I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
This is one of the few authors I read that continuously leave me with a better feel than I started with. I don’t read many straight romances anymore their predictable and have scenes I can do without. With this author I not only get all the romance but I get morals and no scenes my grands can’t pick up my book without me grabbing it back. Her books like this one take you to a place you had to be at some point in your life and the choices you made. We all have them. The difference is of course it’s a book so their choices always work out.
Best friends first, can it lead to more. They never thought so but their whole lives led up to the night they realized there could be more. As always when everything is perfect there arises the deceiver. When faced with the chance to make past dreams come true she’s got to figure out if God’s plan was always in the works to put her right where she needed to be. This is what happens when the past and the present and all of the time in-between bring us to the now. Loved it and her characters (of course ) and am still so happy I stopped and took the time to read and digest.
A new series with a fantastic first book from Jessie Gussman! The story of Clark and Marlowe has them being best friends for many years. They have always stood by each other and had each other’s back. Although different in parenting styles they trust each other with both children. They treat them as their own. As they sit in the storm cellar with the sleeping children, something changes. Romance had never been part of their friendship. Why ruin a great thing? Then, Clark’s ex returns and wants sole custody of his son. They need to band together to prevent this from happening. Such a great story and I can hardly wait to see what is coming next! Thank you, Jessie for always keeping me entertained!
I received an advance copy of this book and I voluntarily wrote an honest review.
Jessie Gussman wrote an interesting story about Clark and Marlowe, who were best friends since they were little. Now all grown up with each trying to raise a precious five year old they realize that their feelings are more than friendship. I enjoyed watching the sparks fly. I liked that they were afraid to chance a relationship for fear they could ruin their friendship. I also liked that they were both trying to figure out what was God’s will. I fell in love with the cover before I even started reading the book! I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
An amazing beautiful small town romance. This well written engaging storyline had me glued page after page. It has drama, romance, ex wife, internal fear, and faith in a wonderful friends to lovers romance. The characters are realistic and well developed with great chemistry. I voluntarily read and reviewed this incredible ARC.
Loved this. Sweet, clean, faith based read. Friends to more, single parents, well developed characters. No spoilers here, you need to read this!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Powerful, funny, and sweet are the adjectives that I would use to describe this book. Part of what makes Jesse Gussman so powerful as a writer is that her characters, setting, and plot come across as so real-life, but in a compelling and overall uplifting way.
Marlowe and Clarke were both identifiable and the types of people that were easy to fall in love with. I really enjoyed their friends to lovers story.
I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving a voluntary review.
Best Friends in the Show Me State by Jessie Gussman (5 stars)
I loved her banter between the two main characters, such fun, sassy exchanges are rare in novels and this was just a pleasure to read.
As is usual with Ms. Gussman, the balance of angst is just right, it never drags on and on.
There is a small scene where a wife is being cruelly bossed around by her husband in a store and it could be a trigger for those of you who have dealt with emotional abuse. It’s a very small snippet, though, and has its purpose in the story. (We romance readers don’t like to be reminded that not every marriage ends in a HEA…)
That said, this is one of those books that I want to read again because the main characters and their interactions are so much fun! (It’s going to translate wonderfully to audio when the time comes!)
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special
The back-and-forth between the two main characters was the strongest point in favor of this book. I loved it! It made me smile, chuckle and smirk. I look forward to the others in the series! Cowboy/farmer wit is one kind I enjoy. I loved how the story had substance. There were difficult circumstances, there was resolution, and then sometimes the hope of resolution was strong enough to carry the story.
There were a few things I didn’t like as much, so that bumped it down to four stars. They’re personal-opinion aspects, though, and not really anything to do with the quality of the writing. (Read on if you’d like specifics; end here if you don’t want spoilers)…
I’m one of those gals who prefers to fastforward Disney movies to the good parts, skipping the villain scenes. If a villian is too ‘villainy’, I get squeamish. The ex-wife in this story was a bit too ‘villainy’ for my tastes. I can’t really fathom someone being that 2-sided and shallow, so the main characters’ voicing that opion validated me, at least, but I would have rather the resolution not have been as cut and dry. Life seems to have much more gray area in my experience.
The other aspect I didn’t like was the theme of a woman’s being the heart of the home. It’s simply too generalized to be applicable. There is a time and season for things, and I don’t agree with the standpoint taken by the strong women in the story. I would have loved to have seen a strong career woman who also was portrayed in such a positive, stalwart light. A woman isn’t strong because of sacrificing, she’s strong because of what she succeeds at accomplishing in line with her values. It seemed like the women who were homemakers were put on a pedestal. As a woman, that sets up a precedent that could impede my well being and that of my family. What if God intends me to have a career? Am I always to feel ‘less than’ if I choose that path, simply because I’m not a full-time homemaker? Somethings a bit off with that part of the storyline and I wish it were handled differently. God does, indeed, direct wonderful women into wonderful careers. I’m uncomfortable putting other women on a pedastal at the cost of sacrificing the noteriety and commendability of women who chose other paths. I guess we’re a summary of who we are, not what we do. What we do is a symptom (or result) of who we are.
There’s my soapbox.
I look forward to reading more in the series!
Loved it! Clark and Marlowe’s story had such a great flow to it. You could feel the writers joy and heart in the writing. This has to be one of my top two favorites of all Jessie Gussman books! You felt like you were there along side them through the joys and struggles. Loved the consept of life long best friends and single parents with values. This copy was gifted to me but the thought are my own. Reviewing this book was a sheet pleasure and I highly recommend it! It was just perfect.
Even though it’s not usually my go-to trope, I found myself enjoying this best friends-to-more story. I liked the fact that they were both single parents and thus, had things/ issues to work through (mainly exes, consequences of divorce, loss of family, etc). I also liked how Marlowe was super organized vs. Clark’s not (or, well, not in the same areas), and how that helped to complement each other. What I certainly loved was the Christian faith aspect and the reminder of always seeking God’s will. I know the author presents an “against the current” POV, but I think that was one of my favorite parts of this book.
All in all, a great start of a new series, and I can’t wait to read Chandler’s story. ~ 4.5 stars
I loved the banter and good friendship!
It took a while to grab and hold my attention, but it turned out to be a pretty good book.
Best Friends in the Show Me State, a new series from my go to author Jessie Gussman, is the story of Marlowe and Clark who have been best friends forever. They are raising their kids together to also be best friends. After a huge storm topples a large tree on Marlowe’s house, they are also sharing Clark’s house. Enter Clark’s ex with a plan to get full custody of their son. Can these best friends be each other’s soulmates? I love how the small town managed to resolve the issues over custody of Huck. This is a really sweet book that I read cover to cover quite quickly so I could get some chores finished!
Best Friends in the Show Me State by Jesse Gussman is a sweet story. I enjoyed reading an ARC of this story, and this is my honest review. There were a number of illustrations in the story of marital relationships that were thought provoking. Jesse always offers perspectives and illumination that make me think and consider beyond my experience. Most of the characters were likable and the plot believable. Discerning God’s will for our lives is rarely easy. I appreciate how Jesse offered up this example of a modern woman seeking clarity and confidence that she was doing God’s will.
I had an ARC copy of this book, but this is my voluntary and honest opinion. Whether stories about Cowboys, Bad Boys or something else, Jessie Gussman tells a great story! These heartwarming characters will take up residence in your life. The humor she includes really adds to the story. I’m looking forward to the nest book in the series.
Clark and Marlowe have been best friends forever. When they hunker down in the basement and tornado winds destroy Marlowe’s home, they both realize they are attracted to each other. Hesitant to possibly hurt their lifelong friendship, it takes a lot of soul searching to take the next step. Marlowe is suddenly presented with a major life choice decision and must decide whether to trust her choice is God’s plan for her. I really enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Don’t miss out on this great romance!
Marlowe Glass and Clark Hudson have been best friends since childhood. As adults and single parents, they still live next door to each other and although they sometimes tease each other unmercifully, they can always count on each other for help and support. Marlowe adopted her niece Kylie following the death of Marlowe’s sister and mother and Clark and his son Huck have been on their own since Clark’s wife Dana abandoned them. Nothing is worth jeopardizing their friendship, especially letting their relationship to another level since it would mean the end of their friendship if it didn’t work out but a tornado and an ex-wife may be an unwelcome catalyst for change.
Jessie Gussman never disappoints me! I fell in love with Marlowe and Clark; they are such a wonderful couple. I really enjoyed this book and believe any clean romance lover will tool.
I loved this start to a new series. The town seemed wonderful and I loved the characters. The best friends and single parents dynamic worked out so well. I loved all of the banter and humor. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Audio:
The banter between these bfs is golden. Hearing it come alive through Dyess was amazing. I loved listening to these best friends discover a new dimension to their relationship. The closeness between them was portrayed in their voices. The children and the different personalities and speech abilities was phenomenal. It really gets deeply into the heart of being a mom and a wife without an identity outside the home.