The widow Allen must overcome the curse of 2 lost spouses with new romance with Cowboy Broderick Monroe and future amidst the years following the Civil War. Always enjoy this author's westerns and interesting characters.

Excellent character depth and real feeling in this short but hopeful romance. It's no bodice-ripper, and that's a compliment. The difficult lives of the main characters were relatable and interesting. The setting was detailed enough to provide interest while sticking to the short and sweet mode of story-telling. I actually wanted there to be more when it ended, and that's the mark of a good story. I believed in their love and it made me happy.

Cute! But a little too short to have any meaningful plot, which made it more of a short story than a novella TBH.

A reissue of “Be My Texas Valentine”. I kept reading, thinking, I read this before. I looked at the publish date. Finally after reading I saw the statement this being a reissue. I loved the story both times I read the book. Both Valerie and Brody were strong characters. I thoroughly recommend.

A quick fast easy read. Well written historical romance. I recommend to fans of historical romance. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Jodi Thomas is one of my favorite historical fiction writers and The Valentine’s Curse is an entertaining story that was originally part of a Valentine anthology in 2012. It takes place two years after the Civil War ends introducing a Yankee soldier, Brody Monroe, to a “cursed” widow named Valerie Allen who is shunned in town and feared because both of her husbands have died under mysterious circumstances. After meeting at a dance these two lonely characters agree to a partnership in her ranch and a hasty marriage. Imagine a town that puts so much faith in a mysterious curse its’ citizens take bets on how soon the curse will strike Brody dead. It’s an entertaining tale that I really enjoyed.even when I had to say goodbye to these two wonderful characters much sooner that I would have liked. I read a complimentary copy of this book provided by Kensington Books through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

Set in Texas after the civil war The Valentine's Curse is a short (74 pages) novella, however it makes a very satisfying read and it was an absolute pleasure to lose myself in the pages for a little while.

Brody is a Yank and not that well received by the other cowboys on the ranch that he works on, they were on opposite sides of the war. So he is an outsider.

Valerie has lost two husbands and its said in town she has a widow's curse and anyone who touches her will die by evening. So she too is an outsider.

But... these two outsiders are upstanding and outstanding people and what does it matter what others say or do?

Perfect reading for a wet afternoon.

This may be just a novella, but Ms. Thomas manages to have great character development and story line in a short work. This western romance brings a lonely, twice widowed woman who is considered cursed by the townspeople together with a man damaged by the war and not caring about much in life. The feelings they brought out in each other and the way in which Ms. Thomas accomplished that was magical! Such a beautiful story!
I received this novella through Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

The Valentine’s Curse by Jodi Thomas. Jodi is a consummate storyteller. She sucks you into her story and you are not even sure how it happens. She creates characters that are like able. You cheer for them and want them to be together.
Brody is a loner who has survived the war. He is a Yank living in the south.

Valerie is a widow and the town is convince there is a curse. She has lost two husbands and the rumor is that a man will get sick just from touching her.

The wife of Brody’s boss has asked him to sit beside Valerie at the Valentine dance. They recognize the loner and the loneliness in each other.

Valerie has a proposal for Brody when he helps her make it home in a storm.

Their relationship is adorable. I loved the scenes as they get to know each other as they go to bed at night.
It is a sweet beautiful love story.
Sexual content - the physical scenes are behind closed doors. Lot of kissing as they are getting to know each other.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

This novella was originally part of the anthology Be My Texas Valentine (published in 2012). It's a story of two people who've been dealt some hard blows by life. When they meet at a Valentine's dance they know they aren't meant to be. He agreed to sit next to her when asked by his bosses wife and she is too proper to disagree. But that doesn't mean she must speak to him. She's known around the county as a cursed widow. He's known as a Yankee and only tolerated because of his strong work ethic. As always happens in a Jodi Thomas story, unexpected circumstances will change the course of lives and this reader loved finding out how. Told in the author's warm and charming style this is a novella her fans and those of historical western romance will want to read. I'm glad I finally discovered it!

This is the story of two people who are outsiders. One because he is a Yankee in Texas after the Civil War and the other because she has been widowed twice and everyone thinks she is cursed. They meet when he is given the choice of dancing on sitting by to widow at the Valentine's day dance to keep from being fired. The story unwinds from there. This is a arranged marriage leading to love story It is very well done and easy to read. If you are a Jody Thomas fan look before you buy. It was published before as part of a anthology so check to make sure you have not already read it.

The Valentine’s Curse by Jodi Thomas
Originally published in Be My Texas Valentine

What a delight this slow burn HEA historical romance happened to be. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end! It has all the elements of this genre that I so love. As I read I remembered similar, though different, stories with characters I have never forgotten...books like “Love Comes Softly” by Janette Oke and “Morning Glory” by LaVyrle Spencer.

Two damaged lonely people meet at a Valentine’s Day dance. Widow Valerie Allen had a rumor start that gained traction and now is believed to be cursed...or perhaps any man who gets too close to her will be cursed, become ill or more likely die. This does not seem to deter Yankee Broderick “Brody” Monroe when he is offered a marriage of convenience - and he readily accepts what is offered. The two get to know one another over a span of time and slowly, “button by button”, true love blossoms between them.

Looking for a feel good historical romance that will linger with you – maybe forever – this is the story for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Lyrical for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Brody works at a ranch in Texas only a few short years after the civil war.Brody us not always welcome in Texas. When there is a dance at the ranch Brody is forced into going and sitting next to the widow allen.She is saud to have a curse that makes men I'll if they touch her, people act afraid of Brody and the widow find they have more in common then first believed and they aren't afraid of each other. The pacing was way too slow for me.

Such a sweet love story about two damaged people that come together in a very unconventional way. Can be read in one sitting. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

The first historical Western I have ever read, and I really enjoyed it!

Everyone thinks Valerie is cursed. She has been married twice and both her husbands died. She is making a modest living on her own, but doesn't have anyone in her life except her father.

Brody is a Yankee who stayed to work in Texas after the Civil War. He is a loner who just wants to work and save his wages.

When they meet at a Valentine's Day dance, it sets in motion events to change both their lives.

Getting both Brody and Valerie's perspectives really made the story for me. You get to see how lonely their lives have become, how kind both of them are, and the romance that blooms between them.

This is a quick read, but the author did a nice job with pacing the plot so it doesn't feel rushed. I do wish we could see more of Brody and Valerie's story!

A short but sweet novella about two people starved for love. Twice widowed Valerie seems to curse every man she's married to, but Brody breaks the curse. He is damaged from the war and she needed help on her farm. Their marriage of convenience turns into a very bountiful relationship,

A wonderful, romantic, historical, western read. The characters were enduring and Thomas touched upon issues without making them the main focus. Her characters were more real than many historical romances tend to be, the world isn't perfect, but even imperfect can get a happy ending. Recommend to western historical readers.

I love all books by Jodi Thomas and this is no exception. I love the characters and the story line and I really enjoyed the epilogue. I just wish it had been a regular book and not a novella. I do not like novellas because I am a fast reader and poof the book is done