Trouble in Texas (Deep in the Heart of Texas, #4)

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Trouble in Texas (Deep in the Heart of Texas #4)

4.02 of 5 stars 4.02 · rating details · 236 ratings · 71 reviews

THERE'S A FOX IN THE HENHOUSE

Inheriting the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas can spell trouble for a girl's reputation . . . especially when she's Elizabeth Murphy, Bramble's prim and proper librarian. Yet when she discovers a buck-naked cowboy handcuffed to a four-poster bed, she forgets all about the town gossips. Elizabeth has sworn off men, but the stranger'...more

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

Published December 18th 2012 by Forever

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Nov 29, 2012 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

3.5 stars

Branston Cates is on his way to his brother, Bubba's wedding in Bramble, Texas, but stops on his way to check out Miss Hattie’s Henhouse, the famous Texas bordello. Like his brother Bubba, Brant believes that answers to the family curse that has plagued the Cates for years may lie at the one hundred year-old whorehouse. Elizabeth Murphy is Bramble's librarian. She's a pillar of society, a little shy and awkward and at thirty-seven considered an old maid by some. She's also Hattie's new...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, for_review

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: C-

Brant is on his way to his brother’s wedding when he stops off at Miss Hattie’s Henhouse hoping to learn the truth about his great-grandfather’s murder. He ends up shot, drugged and handcuffed to a bed, held by three old women, or hens as they liked to be called. The actual owner of the house, Elizabeth, shows up there to warn the women that she’s planning to sell their home when she finds Brant. Since he’s still high on whatever drug the o...more Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: C-

Brant is on his way to his brother’s wedding when he stops off at Miss Hattie’s Henhouse hoping to learn the truth about his great-grandfather’s murder. He ends up shot, drugged and handcuffed to a bed, held by three old women, or hens as they liked to be called. The actual owner of the house, Elizabeth, shows up there to warn the women that she’s planning to sell their home when she finds Brant. Since he’s still high on whatever drug the old hens gave him, he thinks Elizabeth is the legendary Miss Hattie and things get a little hot and heavy in the bedroom. Elizabeth stops things before they go any farther and it’s the start of a crazy relationship between Brant and Elizabeth and of course the crazy women who live at the Henhouse.

The story centers around the hens wanting to rebuild Miss Hattie’s Henhouse to its former glory. Ok, not it’s full former glory, nothing illegal going on there now, but when Brant’s brother Beau shows up, he loves hanging out at the house and thinks turning into a men’s retreat would equal a huge success. Brant gets on board and they start renovations, at the same time, Brant and now Elizabeth are still trying to find clues amongst all the home’s history as to what really happened to Brant’s relative. Along the way, Brant and Elizabeth start to move into a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship. Which wouldn’t be a huge deal, but Elizabeth is a librarian in her late-30s, never married and has never had sex. Brant is hesitant at first, but gives into their attraction. He doesn’t want to get close to Elizabeth, he doesn’t want to get close to anyone, because he’s still dealing with the loss of his wife and son and he’s had to watch Beau fight cancer. He doesn’t want to love anyone else only to lose them, so he keeps himself distant and it’s up to Elizabeth and the hens to change his view on life and love.

I had huge problems with how Elizabeth was portrayed in this book. Yes, she’s a virgin. Yes, she’s a librarian who wears drab suits and is most happy at home, curled up with a good book and her cat. I got so tired of all the old maid comments the town made about her. All the negative references to her age, her looks, being alone and single, it was too much. I really wanted to see Elizabeth snap and let all the people calling her an old maid have it, but she doesn’t. She does slowly start to come into her own and makes some changes in her life. That was nice to see, but I really didn’t like how she was portrayed early on.

There are some fun moments but overall, the story just didn’t do anything for me. The romance was ok, but nothing that I was excited to read more about. The hens and the reopening of their home provided some funny moments, but it was ultimately just a bit too over the top with the crazy characters. I was most drawn to Beau, a man fighting cancer who is refusing to see any more doctors, letting what will be, be and he’s now off living every day to its fullest. Even with his refusal to take care of his health (which had my slightly hypochondriac tendencies screaming) Beau was the most interesting person on page and I was happy to see that his story is next.

For a light, quick read, Trouble in Texas would work. I did enjoy Beau and I liked seeing Elizabeth come into her own as the story progressed. I just ultimately didn’t connect with all the characters or the story and a few funny moments weren’t enough to make this a great read to me.(less)

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Dec 18, 2012 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lane gave me a delightful tale that had me laughing, crying, giggling and sighing! This was a fast paced story, with wonderful characters that I connected too and had me buying the previous books in the series. Like a lot of the series I love each book can be read as a standalone and centers on a couple.

The tale begins at Miss Hattie’s Henhouse once a place men traveled to from miles around for good brandy, fine Cuban cigars and lovely ladies; the home is crumbling but Brant Cates goes there sea...more Lane gave me a delightful tale that had me laughing, crying, giggling and sighing! This was a fast paced story, with wonderful characters that I connected too and had me buying the previous books in the series. Like a lot of the series I love each book can be read as a standalone and centers on a couple.

The tale begins at Miss Hattie’s Henhouse once a place men traveled to from miles around for good brandy, fine Cuban cigars and lovely ladies; the home is crumbling but Brant Cates goes there searching for answers surrounding a family curse and the death of his granddaddy. With a chip and the weight of his family resting squarely on his shoulders he’s seeking to solve a century old crime. Imagine his surprise when he is greeted by a couple of old hens and ends up getting shot. Then finds himself handcuffed to a four-poster bed kissing a woman. Elizabeth Murphy the town librarian and reluctant owner of the Henhouse gets a call from the three old women who reside there and immediately heads out to the farm to see what trouble they have gotten themselves into this time. Imagine her surprise when she discovers a naked man handcuffed to the bed. Brant wakes up and begins kissing Elizabeth thinking he is dreaming but before things can go to far she makes her escape. What have the hens done this time and how will she get them out of this mess? The tale that unfolds was hilarious, romantic and captivating.

Kane provided some of the most unique and colorful characters. Elizabeth is a thirty-seven year old woman who dresses like a school marm, wears her hair in a tight bun and lives alone with her cat. Her mother taught her to avoid men and sadly she lives her life through the pages of the books that line the library walls. I immediately connected with her as we book lovers gotta stick together. The hens exasperate her. She loves them even though she is determined to sell the Henhouse. Brant Cates just oozes smexy, despite the hard-ass walls he has built around himself. This man bears the weight of loss and family. I found him to be noble and sweet. Brant was complex and the more layers the author revealed the more I admired him. (swooned over him!) His brother Beau is go luck after surviving some challenges and I am hoping to get his tale. We meet his other brother who just recently wed, and I am assuming his tale was a previous novel. The Hens themselves were an absolute riot. Their outrageous behavior, willey ways and kind hearts won me over in a heartbeat. The three of them plot to help Elizabeth find happiness and I was rooting for them the entire time. The townsfolk added to the tale and I think I’d have a grand old time if I ever visited just people watching. The romance felt genuine, developed slowly and was at times very hot. I enjoyed watching it unfold.

I thought Trouble in Texas offered up a fresh, fast paced plot. Now granted I do not read a lot of contemporaries and maybe you will tell me it’s been done, but it was new for me and I became completely swept up in the tale. At the top of each chapter the author shares Hen House Rules and each was funny, unique and sometimes truthful. The mystery surrounding Brant’s ancestor was interesting and the reveal shocking. I liked the way the character’s tied into the tale and it came full circle. This was an excellent escape from reality and I enjoyed it immensely.

It should not come as a surprise that I recommend Trouble in Texas and the entire Deep in the Heart of Texas series. Kane spins a wickedly good tale with delightful characters and I am looking forward to reading her books for years to come.

I want to thank Hachette Book Group for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (less)

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Feb 25, 2013 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...

Lots of fun and games, enticing intrigues with tidbits of wisdom here and there make Trouble In Texas a tantalizing tale. One needs to be willing to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the humor, the fun, and eccentricities of the characters.

The title “cowboy” is bantered about rather loosely and some of the characters are stereotyped, but their actions pull the reader into the tangles of the past, troubles in the present, and plans for...more Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...

Lots of fun and games, enticing intrigues with tidbits of wisdom here and there make Trouble In Texas a tantalizing tale. One needs to be willing to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the humor, the fun, and eccentricities of the characters.

The title “cowboy” is bantered about rather loosely and some of the characters are stereotyped, but their actions pull the reader into the tangles of the past, troubles in the present, and plans for the future. Just about every character is on a mission of one kind or the other with few in agreement about desired outcomes.

When thirty-seven year old Elizabeth Murphy, librarian in Bramble, Texas inherits Miss Hattie’s Henhouse, a dilapidated place that was once the infamous Texas bordello, her life takes a hundred and eighty degree turn. She doesn’t intend for it to but the “hens” in the house are masters (or mistresses) of seduction in their own unique way. They do know how to manipulate! By the time Minnie, Baby, Sunshine, and even Starlet work their wiles, not only Elizabeth but also Brandston Cates, a man who feels cursed and wants answers, are seduced.

If you’ve read previous books in the series, you will recognize many of the secondary characters, but Trouble In Texas stands alone very well. It is about two people who need love so very much. How a man afraid to love because of a curse he believes in and a no-nonsense spinster get together to enjoy sizzling sex, feel a soul mate connection, and survive the meddling of the citizens of Bramble, Texas makes delightful reading.

The reader gets to enjoy both subtle and blatant humor, the unraveling of a-more-than-century old secret, and the many types of love—family, man/woman, friends. The acceptance of human flaws and foibles reveals the uniqueness of individuals and showcase a love for life. The redemption that comes is most rewarding.

Katie Lane writing style keeps the reader turning pages, ties up loose ends neatly, and satisfies with a happy-ever-after, yet leaves the reader ready to look for the next book about Brandston’s brother, Beau.

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Jan 16, 2013 E_bookpushers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, arc, reviewed, romance, series, western

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/01/16/...

Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

Get ready for the newest novel in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series.
Inheriting the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas can spell trouble for a girl’s reputation . . . especially when she’s Elizabeth Murphy, Bramble’s prim and proper librarian. Yet when she discovers a buck-naked cowboy handcuffed to a four-poster bed, s...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Desere Steenberg rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was all kinds of WOW! I have come to learn that books from this author are always full of passionate romance, intrigue, suspense and just all kinds of fun little twists and turns.

This one was no exception, in fact this one was definitely my favourite so far. The book is again as previous ones from the series set in the very laid back town of Bramble TX. It is the kind of town where everyone knows everything about everyone and your neighbours are more than just the "folks on the other...more
This book was all kinds of WOW! I have come to learn that books from this author are always full of passionate romance, intrigue, suspense and just all kinds of fun little twists and turns.

This one was no exception, in fact this one was definitely my favourite so far. The book is again as previous ones from the series set in the very laid back town of Bramble TX. It is the kind of town where everyone knows everything about everyone and your neighbours are more than just the "folks on the other side", they are your friends nosy as they may be sometimes but none the less the kind that will help you with anything.

The element of surprise for this one was that prim and proper buttoned up(and yes I mean buttoned up in every sense of the word) librarian Elizabeth is the owner of a whorehouse, or at least that is what the town likes to call it. It is in actual fact more of a safe haven for battered woman who have reached the end of the road,The Hen House.

Elizabeth not only finds that the remaining three "hens" have handcuffed a sexy as sin man to her great grandmothers famous bed but that she is fiercely attracted to him and when he kisses her she looses all sense of reality. But she also has to come to terms with the fact that hiding her ownership,wanted or not wanted is something she can no longer hide from the town.

And that man is no ordinary man, Brant is a force to be reckoned with, he can kiss any woman into submission and he stops at nothing to get what he wants. But on the surface he seems like a ordinary I play hard but work harder cowboy, but in fact he walks around with the notion that he is cursed. Yes, readers no jokes a hot as sin cursed cowboy!

The author did a remarkable job at brining together one virgin "spinster" and one very hot cursed cowboy with delicious sexual scenes, fantastic humour and a secret that will blow your mind.

The main and secondary characters were memorable and even though you can pick up that some have their own stories the book can still be read as a stand alone.

I loved the secrets and the manner the author keeps you guessing. The dialogue was fun and witty at times and romantic as heck other times and not to mention flirty, sexy and just plain awesome.

The author as a extremely unique manner of brining forth not only a good old fashioned cowboy, small town romance but one that delivers a powerful message that people "fit" even when they think they don't. Brant was one heck of a cowboy and Elizabeth the perfect one to break the "curse".

Excellent work Katie,keep them coming!

5/5 start review
" Discovering the family secrets has never been sexier or more intriguing"(less)

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Dec 28, 2012 Jennah Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received the e-galley of TROUBLE IN TEXAS from NetGalley for an honest review.

I've read all of Katie's books that take place in Bramble, TX. I believe this is one of my favorite. It is full of humor, suspense, and realistic relationships between family. The most impressive thing about TROUBLE IN TEXAS was the way Katie made Brant, a rather unloveable character, someone that I wanted more from. She certainly redeemed him from previous books.

Elizabeth is a great character, independent and hard...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Guilty Pleasures rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: guiltypleasures-kclu

KcLu's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.75 Stars

Trouble in Texas is the fourth book in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series, and this series just gets better and better. I mean seriously I want to move to Bramble, Texas!!! This is one of those great series that have you laughing and involved with the love story. And this one takes place in the most famous whorehouse in Texas!!

Brant Cates is the oldest Cates brother, and he is on the shit list of the whole town of Bramble. If you...more KcLu's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.75 Stars

Trouble in Texas is the fourth book in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series, and this series just gets better and better. I mean seriously I want to move to Bramble, Texas!!! This is one of those great series that have you laughing and involved with the love story. And this one takes place in the most famous whorehouse in Texas!!

Brant Cates is the oldest Cates brother, and he is on the shit list of the whole town of Bramble. If you remember from book 3 the Cates brothers wanted to destroy the town of Bramble because of the murder of their great grandfather, but the other 2 had given up and fallen in love with the town. So the town now holds him responsible. When the brothers learned the truth of what had happened to their grandfather in Miss Hattie’s Henhouse, Brant became obsessed with the history of the Henhouse and Miss Hattie herself. So on the way to the wedding he makes a stop at the old Henhouse; he gets way more than he bargained for.

Elizabeth Murphy is the town’s spinster and librarian. She has always been prim and proper, and she swore off men a long time ago. But she is also hiding a big secret from the town. She is the owner of the henhouse, but wants to sale it before anyone even finds out. The old Hens still living in the house get her to come out there and she is shocked to find a sexy man cuffed to Miss Hattie’s bed. She is shocked even more to get the kiss of her life from that sexy stranger.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between everyone and the Hens. There were many moments that had me literally laughing very loudly. Brant and Elisabeth are just so fun together, and they just bring out the best in each other each one helping the other getting over their past issues. She has her hang ups about men and dating, and he has all the grief over losing his wife and son. I can’t wait to see where she takes the rest of this series specially that rascal Beau Cates. I highly recommend this series and book!

Review copy provided for an honest review. (less)

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Dec 04, 2012 Shauni rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Texas has a whorehouse in it.. ok, I couldn't resist but honestly the entire time I was reading this hysterical book by Katie Lane I was humming that song. Trouble in Texas is book 4 in Ms Lane's Deep in the Heart of Texas Series and it is just fabulous.

Not quite sure how it happened but Elizabeth Murphy has inherited Ms Hattie's Henhouse.. not to be confused with the Chicken Ranch, because unlike the Chicken Ranch, the Henhouse has never been closed. Elizabeth is an anachronism if ever there wa...more Texas has a whorehouse in it.. ok, I couldn't resist but honestly the entire time I was reading this hysterical book by Katie Lane I was humming that song. Trouble in Texas is book 4 in Ms Lane's Deep in the Heart of Texas Series and it is just fabulous.

Not quite sure how it happened but Elizabeth Murphy has inherited Ms Hattie's Henhouse.. not to be confused with the Chicken Ranch, because unlike the Chicken Ranch, the Henhouse has never been closed. Elizabeth is an anachronism if ever there was one a 37 year old virgin. A Librarian who well resembles a librarian.. at least in clothes and personal behavior and she is at a loss as to how to deal with the aging ladies of the Henhouse.

Brant Cates, is a man who knows how to hold a grudge. Determined to close down an entire town because his great grandfather was killed there. Of course as time passes he realizes that there is way more to the story than he realizes. Rumors of a relationship with Ms Hattie draw Brent to the henhouse. What he finds is something no one can ever plan for.. an aging building in desperate need of repair.. an aging and protective work force and one lone librarian.

AND then it gets funny.. Shot at, drugged then handcuffed to the bed by said aging hens.. Brent misses his brother's wedding. For a man who family means everything to this was almost harder to take than the fact that he had been duped by aging ladies of the evening.. a former hippy, an aging Marilyn Monroe type and the top hen.. dependent on a wheel chair!!

Brent and Elisabeth have much to learn, about life, love, forgiveness and family. About accepting what was, accepting others and most importantly accepting themselves.. This was a fantastically funny book, yet endearing and sweet as well.

Ms Lane gets it just right when she sets this story in Texas because really, only in Texas could this happen..

Shauni

This review is based on the ARC of Trouble in Texas provided by netgalley and is scheduled for release on December 18, 2012

For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy (less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Kat ~ Forever Book Lover ♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

You can find this review and more at Forever Book Lover.

For inquiring minds.... This is the fourth book in the author's "Deep in the Heart of Texas" series. I have not read the other three, but this book stands on its own. I must say that now that I fell in love with this one, I am going to scoop up the other ones. I seem to be adding Western Romance to my genre; there is something about a man with in a cowboy hat...

This was a quick and fun read. I found myself in stitches within the first few...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Sharon Tyler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Trouble in Texas is the fourth book in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series by Katie Lane. It is scheduled for release on December 18 2012. Elizabeth Murphy was taught by her mother not to trust men, and she never questioned it. She is living a quiet life, working as a librarian in a tiny Texan town and playing the role of an old maid. However, when she inherits an infamous henhouse her life begins to spin out of control, but that could be just what she needs. Brant Crates is on a search for hi...more Trouble in Texas is the fourth book in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series by Katie Lane. It is scheduled for release on December 18 2012. Elizabeth Murphy was taught by her mother not to trust men, and she never questioned it. She is living a quiet life, working as a librarian in a tiny Texan town and playing the role of an old maid. However, when she inherits an infamous henhouse her life begins to spin out of control, but that could be just what she needs. Brant Crates is on a search for his heritage, and maybe a little revenge. When he finds the ramshackle building that is said to be the henhouse where his ancestor was shot, he finds more questions than answers. His plan certainly did not include being shot, drugged, or handcuffed to a bed but some elderly women, but getting wrapped up in Elizabeth's world could prove to be a major game changer.

Trouble in Texas was a fun romance, and just what I needed after some much heavier fare. Elizabeth was a well intentioned and good hearted character, with enough spunk to override the straight lace persona she tried to maintain. The fact that she shared my profession, a librarian mind you, and a deep love of books made me relate to her even more than I might have otherwise. I liked her through out the book, and really enjoyed that she grew as a person and came to understand herself, and her family, more as the story progressed. Brant had some serious baggage as the story began, and he also grew and came to understand himself and the world around him better as the story progressed. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, and while there were a couple moments that I was not thrilled with either of them and their choices, as a whole I liked them both, and their story.

Trouble in Texas is a great romance read. It is contemporary, but has a small town atmosphere and fun, quirky characters. If you are like me and have not read the first three books in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series, do not fear. I did not feel like I was missing anything important but when I finished the story I was eager to read the others (both those that came before and those to come) to read more about some of my favorite secondary characters.(less)

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Sep 23, 2012 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, review-copy, netgalley

Branston Cates went to west Texas to attend his brother’s wedding. He stops at Miss Hattie’s Henhouse a former brothel, and is shot by Minnie, an elderly lady, who lives there. She and the other women who live there drug Branston so he won’t call the sheriff. Brant had stopped there because that is where his great-grandfather had been shot and killed.
Elizabeth Murphy owns the henhouse now, so Minnie and the others call her after the shooting. Elizabeth is a librarian, and she doesn’t want anyon...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, funny

Fourth in the Deep in the Heart of Texas romance series. The couple focus is on Brant Cates and Elizabeth Murphy in the town of Bramble, Texas.
My Take

Love that sign! "Trespassers will be Prostituted". Makes a nice change from the usual. And be sure to take time out to read the Henhouse rules at the beginning of each chapter...too funny. Right along with "dip into her like a tortilla chip into hot salsa".

Whoo-whee...Lane has definitely caught my attention. I was getting pretty sleepy and thought...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Shell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Trouble in Texas by Katie Lane

Elizabeth inherited the infamous “Hen House” – now the residence of three old “Hens” but the librarian in Bramble, Texas had no intentions of keeping the house or having anything to do with the place. That included letting anyone know that she was the owner of the run down old home. Unfortunately the three “off their rockers” crazy ladies had other ideas. Ideas that included the kidnapping, shooting (well they only winged his arm) and drugging of the very sexy man t...more Trouble in Texas by Katie Lane

Elizabeth inherited the infamous “Hen House” – now the residence of three old “Hens” but the librarian in Bramble, Texas had no intentions of keeping the house or having anything to do with the place. That included letting anyone know that she was the owner of the run down old home. Unfortunately the three “off their rockers” crazy ladies had other ideas. Ideas that included the kidnapping, shooting (well they only winged his arm) and drugging of the very sexy man that showed up on their doorstep and they now held captive. What was she to do now? They had all but thrown her into bed with the man and she had all but given him herself as she fell into his arms. Oh and the fact that she wanted to do more than fall into his arms again was going to throw all her plans for living out her life as a quiet old maid out of the window!
Brant didn’t know what possessed him to take the detour out to the ranch but his hopes in finding answers to his great grandfathers’ death were a bigger temptation than continuing on into Bramble to his own brother’s wedding. Especially when he was the most hated man that had never stepped into the town. A town that wanted to tar and feather him then run him out of town on a rail! Never did he expect to be shot, drugged and locked up even if he woke with the most beautiful vision in his arms. The same vision that had been haunting his dreams.
Brantson Cates had only wanted answers and had not planned on destroying Miss Hatties but her image was what haunted him and the feel of her body next to him was beyond anything he had felt before. Too bad she had been dead for years. He had to get to the bottom of “Cates Curse” which brought death and sorrow to their family for years and stemmed from a “rumor” since their great grandfather apparently was killed in the front room of the house decades ago leaving a wife and son… not killed in the storm that was reported. Falling into the magic of the Hen House and in love with Brant was not in Elizabeth’s plans but with the help of three meddling Hens she cannot stop herself from taking her first jump at love. Secrets of the house, their ancestors and the little old ladies threaten not only their lives but the connection they have built. Especially when the entire town still wants to tar and feather one man. The same man who wanted to shut down the one company that would keep the town afloat but now had a stake in not only the Hen House but the woman who came out of her shell (and out of her clothes) thanks to three dangerous ladies. Honesty from not only themselves but he family they do have will help them build a future in Miss Hattie’s bed and in a town that takes its threats seriously even if they have to make accommodations to their method of revenge.
I love this series. It is flirty, frisky and fantastically laugh out loud funny. Brant and Elizabeth are perfect foils for each other as they come together as total opposites but with the magic of three absofrickenlutely craaaaaazy old ladies give in to the magic of the Hen House and the love that they share. I could not stop laughing as they danced their way around their attraction as long as possible while dealing with the naughty octogenarians and cannot wait to find out what mayhem Ms. Lane has in store for the other Cates brothers as they follow their own path to finding love. If you like the romantic comedy of Rachel Gibson, Heidi Betts or Molly Harper you will love this series. Take a chance like I did and become a forever fan of this talented author.
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Aug 19, 2012 Virginia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Name: Trouble in Texas
Author: Katie Lane
ISBN: 9781455515714
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication/Expected Publication: December 18, 2012

This is the fourth book in the author's "Deep in the Heart of Texas" series. I have not read the other three, but this book stands on its own.

Elizabeth Murphy is the local librarian who recently inherited the nearby house of ill repute, "Miss Hattie's Henhouse." Although Lizzie wants to sell, the three "hens" who still live there refuse to...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Chrystina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-arc, contemporary-romance

This book was a delightful read that shows the characters land in one funny situation after another. All of the characters were likeable and the even the side characters were very colorful. The Hens were simply hilarious.

Trouble in Texas is book four in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series, I haven't read any of the other books in this series and although it could be a standalone, I'd recommend reading the other books first. There are a lot of characters introduced in this book, and I think I'...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Heather Boustead rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, humour, contemporary, ebook, romance, western

Brant Crates is searching for answers to what happened to his great-granddaddy; however he doesn’t expect to run into three old ladies who leave him drugged and tied to a bed. Elizabeth Murphy has just inherited Miss Hattie’s Henhouse, for an uptight and proper librarian all she wants to do is get rid of it one day she finds a man tied to a bed and soon her life takes an unexpected twist.

When I first started this book I kept getting angry, let me explain. I am from West Texas where Brant is trav...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Ashley Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

I enjoyed this book. Elizabeth has a nice quiet life that she enjoys as Bramble's librarian. She is happy with her single life and doesn't trust men or want one around. Then she finds a naked man handcuffed to the head madam's bed at a place she owns and has no interest in keeping. He is hot and makes her rethink her idea of swearing off men. Brant has issues with Bramble but maybe their librarian can change his mind.
I enjoyed all the characters in this book...especially the chicks. Brant has an...more

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Nov 17, 2012 *Babs* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: western, romance

My thoughts:

Brant shows up at the old Mrs Hattie's hen house to find out who murdered his grandfather. He had no intention of being held there for a night of falling for Elizabeth the new owner. Elizabeth has had a time with the old hens that are living at Mrs Hattie's she shows up to talk with them no expecting to find a man held captive, handcuffed to a bed and naked. She also had no idea the man was THE main who wanted to shut down the oil company in her small town. No one would like to find...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Shirley Frances rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, read-2-review, mf-series

3.50 for the great cast of characters.

A funny romantic read.

I will be honest here and tell you that what attracted me to this book was that very enticing cover. Isn't it awesome? And the good news is that the book is not bad either. So it was a win-win for me!

TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSTITUTED

Brant is a man with a painful past who is certainly not looking for love and who is determined to find the solution to the curse of his family. He believes that it all centers around his great-grandfather's mu...more 3.50 for the great cast of characters.

A funny romantic read.

I will be honest here and tell you that what attracted me to this book was that very enticing cover. Isn't it awesome? And the good news is that the book is not bad either. So it was a win-win for me!

TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSTITUTED

Brant is a man with a painful past who is certainly not looking for love and who is determined to find the solution to the curse of his family. He believes that it all centers around his great-grandfather's murder. But when he goes to Miss Hattie's Henhouse to find the answers he seeks, he not only gets shot by Minnie but meets Elizabeth, the new owner. Although she owns the Henhouse, Elizabeth wants nothing to do with it. She's a single librarian who is happily unmarried and she expects it to stay that way. Until a shared kiss turned their lives upside down. All of a sudden they're having lustful thoughts and day-dreaming about how it could be like if they got together. After sharing several hot kisses and an unexpected night visit, they decide to stop fighting their attraction and pursue a friends with benefits relationship with each other, no strings attached.

I liked the characters and enjoyed their dialog very much. Elizabeth was so proper with her suits and her I-don't-need-a man mentality, but underneath it all lay a very sensual person who would like to connect with a man on a deeper level. And Brent was adorable, so tortured by his past that he would rather not get involved with anyone so that there's no risk of loss, he was very adamant to get to the bottom of his family's curse and fight his new-found feelings for Elizabeth.

The writing was very good and I enjoyed how the author, Katie Lane, went about in the telling of the story. The main characters were great, but I have to say that I enjoyed the secondary characters too. Minnie was a joy to read. She was hilarious and added a lot to my enjoyment of the story. And I loved Beau, Brant's younger brother. He was so sweet and had a great outlook in life. I liked that the author didn't go the 'insta-love' route with the relationship and included a lot of hesitation and inner struggles within the feelings of the characters because for me it added to the believability of their connection. She had me laughing out loud and I even found myself all misty eyed at times.

I didn't realize that this book was the fourth book in the author's "Deep in the Heart of Texas" series, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. In fact, now that I know about it I will definitely be going back to read the previous books and looking forward to the next book in the series - Beau's story . The excerpt included in my edition caught my attention and left me wanting more.

I received this book through NetGalley and would like to thank them and Gran Central Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this title in exchange of my honest opinion.(less)

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Dec 18, 2012 Wminbc rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-soon-from-nrr

Wow...I read this one so long ago, but the review is now up that the book is to be released today...check it out!

http://www.nocturnereads.com/2012/12/...

Brant you hottie...You just need some help with the committment end of things...

Liked it...but wanted more exploration from a 37 yr old virgin and her 38yr old cherry popper!

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 22, 2013 Bebe Knight rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog, katie-lane, novel, review, reading-until-i-fall-asleep, romance, texas, western

Review by Bebe at Reading Until I Fall Asleep

Henhouse Rule #8: A man in the hand is worth two in the bush

Katie Lane does it again! In the fourth book from her Deep in the Heart of Texas series, Ms. Lane introduces Brant Cates (locally hated scoundrel for attempting to turn Bramble into a ghost town by shutting down a popular place of employment, all over a 100 year old brawl concerning his great, great grandfather) and Elizabeth Murphy (resident librarian and old maid). We watch as both characte...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: betrayal, cowboys, humorous, series, states-texas, virgin

Elizabeth Murphy is the epitome of a prim and proper librarian in Bramble. Elizabeth has led her life through her books and kept herself unattached along the way. Having recently inherited Miss Hattie’s Henhouse which is notoriously legendary for the fine serviced the women once gave, Elizabeth wants to sell it sooner rather than later.

Brant Cates is looking for anyway to lift the Cates curse. His first order of business is to find out what really happened to his grandfather and hope his luck wi...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: earc, kindle

This is maybe my 2nd Katie Lane book. I did not read the previous books in this series but that didn't bother me and didn't seem to effect the telling of the story. Sexy Brant Cates is the oldest surviving brother of the Cates family. He feels there is a curse hounding his family. He thought it was kind of silly until his wife and young child died after a tornado came through and destroyed his home and his life. Now he's decided to investigate the murder of his great grandfather and that leads h...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars

I didn't like this one as much as the other Bramble, Texas books. The previous books relied on the town and their quirky ways to add humor to the book - this one relied on 3 older retired prostitues to bring in the humor. While they were funny, they just couldn't carry the humor as much as an entire town did in the other 3 books.
Since I went into this book expecting it to be very similar to the previous 3, I was a bit let down. If it had been "advertised" as a stand-alone book and not as part of...more

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Aug 27, 2012 D.C. rated it 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Inheriting the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas can spell trouble for a girl's reputation . . . especially when she's Elizabeth Murphy, Bramble's prim and proper librarian. Yet when she discovers a buck-naked cowboy handcuffed to a four-poster bed, she forgets all about the town gossips. Elizabeth has sworn off men, but the stranger's kisses melt her resolve faster than ice cream on a hot summer day.

Waking up in Miss Hattie's Henhouse isn't how Brant Cates reckoned on...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Jessie rated it 2 of 5 stars

This story had promise – the author is talented but I had 2 major issues with this story:
*******SPOLIERS*****
1) Lineage: There is a huge red herring that prevents readers from wanting the couple to be together. In the prologue, the hero’s male ancestor dies in the arms of a woman we are lead to believe is the heroine’s ancestor. So until page 282 of a 320 page book, the readers will believe that the couple could be related and in a heavy sexual relationship. It was weird.

2) Whorehouse: Miss Hat...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-s-challenge, arc, western

Elizabeth Murphy likes a simple life and being the town of Bramble’s librarian makes it easy for her. She likes her job of being surrounded by books and not the nosy bodies of Bramble. Her reputation as a good girl keeps her safe from men but when she inherits Hattie’s henhouse, all of that can go quickly if the people find out that she is the great-great granddaughter of Miss Hattie.

Brant Cates is on his way to his brother’s wedding in Bramble, Texas. He just has to make one stop…Hattie’s house...more Elizabeth Murphy likes a simple life and being the town of Bramble’s librarian makes it easy for her. She likes her job of being surrounded by books and not the nosy bodies of Bramble. Her reputation as a good girl keeps her safe from men but when she inherits Hattie’s henhouse, all of that can go quickly if the people find out that she is the great-great granddaughter of Miss Hattie.

Brant Cates is on his way to his brother’s wedding in Bramble, Texas. He just has to make one stop…Hattie’s house of hens. It’s the last place that his great-great grandfather was believed to be alive before he died. Brant wants the truth and he is not leaving until he finds it. He just didn’t expect to come face to face with three old ornery ladies.

When Brant arrives at Miss Hattie, he is greeted by a crazy old Minnie who accidentally shoots him in the arm. Once he mentions that he is calling the sheriff, Minnie and the rest of the hens (that is what the women who lived in the house called themselves) drug him and ties him to a bed. Talk about outrageous beginnings! The hens are absolutely hilarious.

Elizabeth is trying to stay away from Miss Hattie’s but Minnie calls her over for some emergency. Elizabeth discovers a naked man ties to Miss Hattie’s bed and he almost succeed in seducing her. After escaping the henhouse, Elizabeth realizes more than ever that she has to sell the house and get rid of the hens.

When Elizabeth and Brant come together in the day, Brant sees the sexy temptress behind the boring librarian persona. He remembers the sweet kisses and heat that she had the night before. The last thing Brant needs is a stuffy librarian getting in his way but he finds himself drawn to her the more he spends time at the hen house.

The story becomes more crazy and zany with each chapter. I love how the author begins each chapter with a rule from the henhouse and it applies perfectly to the chapter. Brant and Elizabeth fight each other in every scene but I can understand their reluctance. Brant’s wife and child died and his brother (Beau) is fighting cancer. Every person he loves has experienced some trauma or death and he is afraid to get close to anyone. Elizabeth has been taught by her mother that men are no good. After all, her mother grew up in the henhouse.

There is so much more to this story but I don’t want to give it all away. The author does an excellent job at building the suspense and keeping the tension high. Readers will learn who killed Brant’s great-great grandfather and more tidbits about the hens.

Ms. Lane delivers a laugh out loud funny western story. I didn’t read any of the other books in the story but I got them on my must-buy list. For those who enjoy over the top, sexy cowboys with a splash of humor, this is the perfect book. I can’t wait for Beau’s story. He deserves happiness after all.

(less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Crystal Leo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, cowboy-themed

This review was first posted at Reading Between The Wines!

Favorite Quote: "Henhouse Rule #49: If you're gonna sling chicken shit, prepare to get hit."

Oh Katie Lane, how I love you! Let me count the ways! One, the characters you give me are incredible! Where else could I read about a 37 year old frumpy virgin librarian named Elizabeth who is really the great-great granddaughter of the most famous madam (Miss Hattie Ladue) of the most famous *ahem* gentlemen's club in Texas history? A club she now...more This review was first posted at Reading Between The Wines!

Favorite Quote: "Henhouse Rule #49: If you're gonna sling chicken shit, prepare to get hit."

Oh Katie Lane, how I love you! Let me count the ways! One, the characters you give me are incredible! Where else could I read about a 37 year old frumpy virgin librarian named Elizabeth who is really the great-great granddaughter of the most famous madam (Miss Hattie Ladue) of the most famous *ahem* gentlemen's club in Texas history? A club she now owns, but can't afford to keep. And if that wasn't intriguing enough, let's throw in her mental mother who has brainwashed her into thinking all men are pigs and the institution of marriage is a joke. She's much better of being the old maid of Bramble, isn't she? At least that's what Elizabeth thought until she got to know Brant.

That brings us to the number two reason of why I luurrrvve Katie Lane. She gives the best outrageous scenarios! Example of that would be how Elizabeth first meets Brant. She doesn't meet him in any normal capacity, like running into him at the coffee shop. No! The first time our heroine meets our hero Brant, he's been roofied and handcuffed to the opulent antique four poster bed that once belonged to her famous great-great grandmother, by three older women who were once ladies of the formerly great club! One of which is confined to a wheel chair and is wearing a magenta wig with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. If that wasn't enough reason for you, Brant puts the moves on her because in his very high state he thinks that she's the very sexy woman he's been dreaming about, the long gone Miss Hattie.

Trouble in Texas is a funny, heart warming, and I think has a great back story to the hero. And if me listing two reasons of why I love Katie Lane, and this book, isn't enough for you, know that reason three involves two ingredients. Honey and chicken feathers. But I'm not giving you anything more! Five wine glass toast, all the way! Go get your copy of this book TODAY!
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Dec 28, 2012 Ni_kii rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cowboys

Really 2.5 Stars

Originally reviewed http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot....

I loved the first two in the Bramble series by Katie Lane but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. It doesn’t really need to be read alongside the other books as it doesn’t feature any of the other characters. My main issue with this book was that, whilst the humour was charming in parts, I didn’t find the characters likeable enough for me to care about their stories. I will continue with this series because I loved...more

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About Katie Lane

Katie Lane's interest in romance was sparked in high school in the backseat of a '65 mustang-okay, so maybe it wasn't romance as much as raging teenage hormones. Still, coupled with a wild imagination, those make-out sessions inspired many a steamy storyline along with a strong belief that true love does prevail. Katie lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with the owner of that mustang and would love...more

More about Katie Lane...

Books by Katie Lane

Going Cowboy Crazy (Deep in the Heart of Texas, #1)

Make Mine a Bad Boy (Deep in the Heart of Texas, #2)

Catch Me A Cowboy (Deep in the Heart of Texas, #3)

Flirting with Texas (Deep in the Heart of Texas, #5)

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Quotes from Trouble in Texas

“Which didn't explain why Brant remained outside with Elizabeth, even when he started to suffer from heatstroke. Or maybe heatstroke was only the excuse he used for what happened next. With one eye pinned on Elizabeth, he stripped off his shirt, something he rarely did, and proceeded to perform feats of strength. He moved large rocks for no good reason, grunting as if he were leg-pressing a good five hundred pounds. He welded hedge clippers like Edward Scissorhands. And hoed like a lumberjack bent on clearing the Sierras.

It was heatstroke. It had to be. There was no other way to explain a thirty-eight-year-old man flexing and posing for a woman like some goddamned body builder in a competition.

And the worst part about it was she didn't even pay him the slightest bit of attention.” — 3 people liked it

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Trouble in Texas (Deep in the Heart of Texas #4)

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