What do you think?
Rate this book
The Texas Brands #9
Texas Homecoming
A HEART YEARNS
Luke Brand wishes for what he’s never had–family. Aside from an overprotective mother who died young, he’s never had that–until he drives his rig into Quinn, Texas to meet the family he’s never known. His cousins welcome him with open arms. 3 months later he’s still there, selling his semi to buy an abandoned house for back taxes, dreaming of settling down with a wholesome woman and raising some kids of his own.
OPPOSITES ATTRACT
Jasmine is not wholesome. She’s a waitress and sometimes exotic dancer at a Chicago club. A classically trained dancer, Jasmine doesn’t mind doing what she has to. It’s all for her son, Baxter. She’d do anything to protect him from the world.
DANGER PURSUES
When Baxter witnesses a murder at the club and becomes a target himself, Jasmine takes him and runs. Posing as her best friend, shot dead by the same killer who’s after Bax, she heads for Texas to hole up in the house her roomie inherited but wanted no part of. The only problem with her plan is the sexy cowboy who’s already living there.
Luke Brand wishes for what he’s never had–family. Aside from an overprotective mother who died young, he’s never had that–until he drives his rig into Quinn, Texas to meet the family he’s never known. His cousins welcome him with open arms. 3 months later he’s still there, selling his semi to buy an abandoned house for back taxes, dreaming of settling down with a wholesome woman and raising some kids of his own.
OPPOSITES ATTRACT
Jasmine is not wholesome. She’s a waitress and sometimes exotic dancer at a Chicago club. A classically trained dancer, Jasmine doesn’t mind doing what she has to. It’s all for her son, Baxter. She’d do anything to protect him from the world.
DANGER PURSUES
When Baxter witnesses a murder at the club and becomes a target himself, Jasmine takes him and runs. Posing as her best friend, shot dead by the same killer who’s after Bax, she heads for Texas to hole up in the house her roomie inherited but wanted no part of. The only problem with her plan is the sexy cowboy who’s already living there.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2001
382 people are currently reading
848 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,573 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 13, 2018
This romance suspense story starts with a lady witnessing a crime and protecting her small child. They manage to jump into a car and drive to Texas, where despite the fact that they have made stops, it turns out she hasn't bought any useful items or changes of clothes. She turns up at a family house that has been left empty and is about to be put up for sale to pay back property taxes, but of course it is also rented temporarily by the lawyer in an attempt to pay the costs, and the guy in it doesn't appreciate being told to get out. The real snag for our heroine is that she's not who she is claiming to be, and the house is not actually in her family but her flatmate's. She's terrified that the evil criminals will catch her.
Good start and the kid is quite realistic. The mother is highly overprotective but then they are not used to outdoor life. The end is a return to suspense, but in between we get the making of a romance story with a dozen of the Texas family showing up to chat. I take it these people have been in earlier books.
This is okay but the writing style is basic, with almost no description of the surrounding environment and most scenes set indoors like a soap opera. Quite a bit depends on guns, which I suppose may be plentiful in Texas. This is an adult romance. The language however doesn't get much stronger than damn and effing, if you can believe a bad guy saying that. I think that's a compromise too far.
I read an e-ARC. This is an unbiased review.
Good start and the kid is quite realistic. The mother is highly overprotective but then they are not used to outdoor life. The end is a return to suspense, but in between we get the making of a romance story with a dozen of the Texas family showing up to chat. I take it these people have been in earlier books.
This is okay but the writing style is basic, with almost no description of the surrounding environment and most scenes set indoors like a soap opera. Quite a bit depends on guns, which I suppose may be plentiful in Texas. This is an adult romance. The language however doesn't get much stronger than damn and effing, if you can believe a bad guy saying that. I think that's a compromise too far.
I read an e-ARC. This is an unbiased review.
August 26, 2009
2 ½ stars. Book number 9 of the Texas Brands. The story of Luke Brand (a cousin of the “original” Texas Brands) and Jasmine Jones (a Chicago girl with a son, Baxter). The reason I did not like this book? The heroine, Jasmine, was annoyingly prickly, non-trusting, and hard to like. The plot was boring and predictable, in my opinion, Jasmine and her son, are on the run after witnessing a murder. The murder unfortunately is a bad cop. The romance? Didn’t feel like there was any. There was one love scene and it was written like it was written for a young adult book. Which was completely disappointing since Ms. Shayne can write awesome books with awesome characters, plots, and love scenes! The only redeeming quality this book has is that is centers around family. More specifically ALL the Brands whom we have read about in previous books are all in here. It was fun to read about them all again. Now, I’ll be able to move onto the Oklahoma All-Girl Brands.
February 20, 2017
another wonderful book. love this author
January 22, 2014
Wow, what a book! This story held me captive right from the beginning and kept me there till the very end! I read this book in almost two sittings. This story in an "on the edge of your seat" suspense/romance/western. It was fun, sexy, romantic and heart warming. I was even in tears a couple times! I found it very hard to stop reading. Even while I was knitting I was thinking about the book and wanted to put my knitting aside (and there is not too many books that will do that). And, big surprise, this book got great reviews from others on Amazon.
The character development is excellent! Wow I loved everyone! LOL really, I did. But I did especially love Jasmine. She was such a toughy, if I ever get into trouble I want her to back me up! She kind of reminded me of Hallie Berry in Catwoman, LOL I don't know why, she just did!
And the "Brand Clan" was awesome, what a great family! It was kind of like the "Dallas" TV show, only without all the scandal... well, no there was definitely scandal - so scratch that!
Well lets just say - I loved this book. And what a great idea it is to have a book like this for free. I would have never tried one of her books otherwise and now I can't wait to read another!
The character development is excellent! Wow I loved everyone! LOL really, I did. But I did especially love Jasmine. She was such a toughy, if I ever get into trouble I want her to back me up! She kind of reminded me of Hallie Berry in Catwoman, LOL I don't know why, she just did!
And the "Brand Clan" was awesome, what a great family! It was kind of like the "Dallas" TV show, only without all the scandal... well, no there was definitely scandal - so scratch that!
Well lets just say - I loved this book. And what a great idea it is to have a book like this for free. I would have never tried one of her books otherwise and now I can't wait to read another!
January 21, 2025
This is the ninth and final book in the Texas Brands series. The book is similar to the others in the series with romance and action. We get introduced to a new member of the family. We learn that Marcus and Sara have an unknown half brother. Luke has never known his father and he spent his childhood growing up with a loving but overprotective mother. It was always just him and his mom and Luke didn't really learn to make friends. Fortunately for him, after his mom passes, he does make friends with an old truck driver. When his friend is killed in an accident, he decides that maybe he needs to do something different and maybe he should go meet the cousins in Texas that he was always told about. When he gets there, he is surprised to find a warm welcoming family. Meanwhile, Jasmine, who grew up with a mother that didn't seem to care about her is supporting herself and her son by being an exotic dancer. It wasn't the career she wanted when she trained in classical dancing but she would do anything for her son. She wasn't going to be the kind of mother that hers was. When Baxter witnesses a murder at the club while Jasmine is picking up her check, she grabs her son and flees Chicago. As she attempts to go pick up her best friend, she finds out the bad guys beat her to it and her friend is now dead. She runs to Texas to a house that her friend just inherited, not knowing that someone has been renting it out and planning to buy it. Luke is afraid of losing the house to Jasmine but at the same time feels honor bound to help her out. He offers to have her stay at the house with him until they can work things out. It doesn't take Luke long to fall for Jasmine and Baxter. When he finally finds out what is really going on, Jasmine decides to take matters into her own hands. She leaves Baxter with Luke and sets off for Chicago. Luke, not one to let her face danger alone, leaves Baxter with the Brands and sets off to rescue Jasmine with Garratt, Wes and Ben tagging along. Will they be in time to keep Jasmine alive or will her plan work? Will she realize that Texas is where she and Baxter belong?
March 25, 2022
I had trouble with Luke from the beginning, and I finally decided it was because his name was Luke, which presupposed to me a more cultured, gentlemanly man than a rough-and-ready trucker. So, when his behavior was more that of a trucker, I felt discomposed. Very strange. And then, all too often, his behavior was not that of a trucker. For example, telling Jasmine that she wore too much make-up and not finding it attractive really seemed out of character for a trucker. At any rate, I had some realism issues with this book evidently.
January 25, 2020
Loved Luke who if I am not mistaken no one even knew he existed. I loved Bex and Jazz also. Their story was a nice ending to the series. I liked that Jasmine was so set on not having enough love for anyone except Bex it was very sweet. I don’t know why I couldn’t really picture Luke as a trucker it org if felt like a very random trait that didn’t totally fit his character. All in all this story was good.
March 15, 2023
Amazing book series
This series of the Texas Brands, you will have a hard time putting them down! Luke found his way home and I love how "the Brands" all drop what they're doing when one of them are in need of help! Luke and Jasmine and Baxter are the family Jazz wanted but never dreamed she have. And her bonus family is the rest of them. Start at book one and continue on as if you're watching a movie mini series! They're that good!
This series of the Texas Brands, you will have a hard time putting them down! Luke found his way home and I love how "the Brands" all drop what they're doing when one of them are in need of help! Luke and Jasmine and Baxter are the family Jazz wanted but never dreamed she have. And her bonus family is the rest of them. Start at book one and continue on as if you're watching a movie mini series! They're that good!
June 19, 2021
I loved this book. Also Maggie shayne. I read everything I can find by her. I 💘 her stories. They make u cry and happy ☺ too they are for everyone 14 and up.
because they do have sexual context. Enjoy everyone. Am looking forward to more stories by her. Will look for books by her.
because they do have sexual context. Enjoy everyone. Am looking forward to more stories by her. Will look for books by her.
January 5, 2019
Awesome Read!
Every book I have read in this series I have really enjoyed! I really believe everyone who reads this book will enjoy it! I will definitely recommend this book to others!
Every book I have read in this series I have really enjoyed! I really believe everyone who reads this book will enjoy it! I will definitely recommend this book to others!
June 16, 2019
Good read
Good wholesome read with tiny bit of sex added. This author writes good stories about larger than life alpha men with soft centres for the strong but intelligent women the fall in love with.luke was a tad slow but got there.
Good wholesome read with tiny bit of sex added. This author writes good stories about larger than life alpha men with soft centres for the strong but intelligent women the fall in love with.luke was a tad slow but got there.
December 19, 2022
Texas Homecoming (The Texas Brands Book 9)
Another heartfelt story that epitomizes love and family while fostering hope and the ability to believe in the "after".
I truly have enjoyed The Texas Brands, let's go meet the Oklahoma ones!
Another heartfelt story that epitomizes love and family while fostering hope and the ability to believe in the "after".
I truly have enjoyed The Texas Brands, let's go meet the Oklahoma ones!
May 13, 2023
Texas Home Coming by Maggie Shayne
Great family series. Jasmine and Luke were an unlikely couple. She was running away to safety with her son and he was settling in Texas and becoming part of the Brand family. Their story includes secrets and danger.
Great family series. Jasmine and Luke were an unlikely couple. She was running away to safety with her son and he was settling in Texas and becoming part of the Brand family. Their story includes secrets and danger.
August 28, 2023
What a way to end a series!!!
I started this book thinking what else can Maggie have to tell us about the Brands? I was wrong she had her story planned so well I kept reading until Jaz and Baxter were safe at home with their new Brand family.
I started this book thinking what else can Maggie have to tell us about the Brands? I was wrong she had her story planned so well I kept reading until Jaz and Baxter were safe at home with their new Brand family.
June 28, 2024
That's Love
Reading like a real life story. It brought me to tears. Like a TV drama. I find my self wanting to get to the next part. So I want put it down until I get to the end. It leaves you wanting for more.
Reading like a real life story. It brought me to tears. Like a TV drama. I find my self wanting to get to the next part. So I want put it down until I get to the end. It leaves you wanting for more.
December 24, 2018
Love this series
This entire series was a fantastic read. I felt like I stepped into The Brand Family and onto The Brand Ranch with each new adventure. Worth every second!
This entire series was a fantastic read. I felt like I stepped into The Brand Family and onto The Brand Ranch with each new adventure. Worth every second!
December 5, 2022
WTF
I loved this series but the next ones were no longer published even though they were in the book to get. Sad and disappointed in NC......
I loved this series but the next ones were no longer published even though they were in the book to get. Sad and disappointed in NC......
January 14, 2023
Maggie Shayne
I love the suspense and romance. Now I'm on to the OK Brands. I want to but the complete series
I love the suspense and romance. Now I'm on to the OK Brands. I want to but the complete series
September 25, 2023
Qick conclusion
February 23, 2024
Wonderful story
This was another wonderful story. The characters are great. I really love the remarkable stories this author writes. These are well worth the time to read.
This was another wonderful story. The characters are great. I really love the remarkable stories this author writes. These are well worth the time to read.
August 10, 2024
Great book
I loved everything about this book. It had my interest from start to finish. I would recommend it to everyone
I loved everything about this book. It had my interest from start to finish. I would recommend it to everyone
September 29, 2024
Great saga
The last One of the Texas Brand saga, and still I couldn't put it down. As the other books in the series, it's very entertaining. And now into the Oklahoma Brands!
The last One of the Texas Brand saga, and still I couldn't put it down. As the other books in the series, it's very entertaining. And now into the Oklahoma Brands!
June 26, 2025
Good read
This is the last in this series and is as good as all the rest. I can recommend them all.
This is the last in this series and is as good as all the rest. I can recommend them all.
November 20, 2017
This book was wonderful, as much as the others in this series. I look forward to jumping in to more of Ms. Shayne's books. I really enjoyed the "homecoming" of Luke to a family he didn't even know, and as I've come to expect, the Brands opened their arms not only for their long-lost half-cousin, but when Jasmine and her adorable boy enter with danger following them, they are also accepted immediately! I love this family, and can't wait to read more in the other connecting series'!
June 5, 2014
4.5 stars for The Homecoming
After witnessing a brutal crime, Jasmine Jones left town with nothing but her seven-year-old son and the building blocks of a whole new identity. And although she hadn't meant to deceive the close-knit Texas Brands, claiming to be their long-lost relative, Jenny Lee, was her only chance at survival. Jasmine thought her secret was safe -- until one Brand started asking questions . . . .Luke Brand recognized fear, and this woman was practically shaking in her stilettos. But the woman's blinding beauty and her desperate pleas for protection soon obscured Luke's quest for the truth. Luke knew protecting her was only asking for trouble, but sometimes a Brand's gotta do what a Brand's gotta do.
My Synopsis
Jasmine Jones just wanted to get her paycheck from work so her little boy could go on a school fieldtrip. But everything goes wrong when she and her son witnesses a point blank execution of a federal officer. Narrowly escaping a rain of bullets Jasmine manages to escape town with nothing but her son, her friend's purse, her car, and the clothes on her back.
Driving all the way to Texas she stumbles into the grasp of Luke Brand and the Texas Brands, a close knit family that puts family first.
The Gist of It *WARNING, SPOILERS*
Jasmine witnesses a cop killing another cop. Her son also witnessed the same crime and as a result they peel out of Chicago to avoid a hail of gunfire that's all aimed in their direction. Her roommate and best friend, Rosebud, is murdered before she can even be warned. Jasmine uses Rosebud's identity and legal documents to stake a claim on Rosebud's mother's house in Texas. Only there's a problem. Someone is already living there, Luke Brand.
At first all Luke wants to do is throw the woman out on her rear. That is, until he realizes she has a kid in tow and that his family would frown upon him for breaking the Brand's Family code. He offers to let her stay, sensing that there is more going on the she leads him to believe.
As is the Brand way, the entire family welcomes Jasmine and her young son, Baxter into their fold without question. They offer her everything she could ever want, a job, a family, a place to call home. But Jasmine has never believed that any of it could be true, everyone is out for themselves and men are one step up from dogs. She refuses to let any of them into her life, even as her son blooms under the acceptance if this amazing family.
Luke, poor Luke, finds himself falling for the petite woman, despite the wall around her heart and her sharp words. It seems she trusts him. Trust him enough to make him promise if anything should happen to her, he'd keep her son as his own and raise him.
And then she disappears into the night....
Aaaannnddd you'll have to read the book to see how it ends.
My Conclusion ,
All in all I really liked this book. It introduces some interesting ideas. Ideas, I admit, other authors have often used in their books, but in this one it actually sort of rings true. The idea of fate, or a higher being guiding us through our life should we choose to listen. Luke feels like his old friend Buck who died (we start the book at Buck's funeral) is guiding him to a life fulfilled by family. He believes Buck was the one telling him to meet the Brand clan out in Texas, and later, that Buck may even have bought Jasmine into his life. Or maybe it was Rosebud...or maybe it was God.
Another example, the author uses the idea of true love or soulmates. While she doesn't actually use either term, it's there for the reader to pick up. Usually I'd chalk it up to a type of Insta-love, but Shayne truly doesn't make it feel that way. The way she wrote the book, with both characters hating each other for complicating each other's lives and then Luke quickly realizing that maybe she was there for a reason (Jasmine, not so much). It was interesting and I found not the least bit aggravating. A true achievement in a world now full on insta-love novels.
I also didn't mind the ending. I have no idea why I didn't find it highly annoying. After all, one of my chief beefs with romance novels is the 'hasty wedding'. While this is a marriage done in a hospital room, I didn't mind it. Perhaps it's because Jasmine was hit so hard by the fact that she truly loved Luke, or maybe it was the fact that they both got a huge dose of how short life could be, but I honestly didn't mind the ending in the slightest. Heck for making me like such an ending, wow Maggie Shayne, I applaud you.
So the only thing that really got me was a few poorly formatted sentences that I had to read over once or twice to comprehend why I was stumbling over the wording. Other than that, that was actually a really good romance novel...and I have never said that before.
After witnessing a brutal crime, Jasmine Jones left town with nothing but her seven-year-old son and the building blocks of a whole new identity. And although she hadn't meant to deceive the close-knit Texas Brands, claiming to be their long-lost relative, Jenny Lee, was her only chance at survival. Jasmine thought her secret was safe -- until one Brand started asking questions . . . .Luke Brand recognized fear, and this woman was practically shaking in her stilettos. But the woman's blinding beauty and her desperate pleas for protection soon obscured Luke's quest for the truth. Luke knew protecting her was only asking for trouble, but sometimes a Brand's gotta do what a Brand's gotta do.
My Synopsis
Jasmine Jones just wanted to get her paycheck from work so her little boy could go on a school fieldtrip. But everything goes wrong when she and her son witnesses a point blank execution of a federal officer. Narrowly escaping a rain of bullets Jasmine manages to escape town with nothing but her son, her friend's purse, her car, and the clothes on her back.
Driving all the way to Texas she stumbles into the grasp of Luke Brand and the Texas Brands, a close knit family that puts family first.
The Gist of It *WARNING, SPOILERS*
Jasmine witnesses a cop killing another cop. Her son also witnessed the same crime and as a result they peel out of Chicago to avoid a hail of gunfire that's all aimed in their direction. Her roommate and best friend, Rosebud, is murdered before she can even be warned. Jasmine uses Rosebud's identity and legal documents to stake a claim on Rosebud's mother's house in Texas. Only there's a problem. Someone is already living there, Luke Brand.
At first all Luke wants to do is throw the woman out on her rear. That is, until he realizes she has a kid in tow and that his family would frown upon him for breaking the Brand's Family code. He offers to let her stay, sensing that there is more going on the she leads him to believe.
As is the Brand way, the entire family welcomes Jasmine and her young son, Baxter into their fold without question. They offer her everything she could ever want, a job, a family, a place to call home. But Jasmine has never believed that any of it could be true, everyone is out for themselves and men are one step up from dogs. She refuses to let any of them into her life, even as her son blooms under the acceptance if this amazing family.
Luke, poor Luke, finds himself falling for the petite woman, despite the wall around her heart and her sharp words. It seems she trusts him. Trust him enough to make him promise if anything should happen to her, he'd keep her son as his own and raise him.
And then she disappears into the night....
Aaaannnddd you'll have to read the book to see how it ends.
My Conclusion ,
All in all I really liked this book. It introduces some interesting ideas. Ideas, I admit, other authors have often used in their books, but in this one it actually sort of rings true. The idea of fate, or a higher being guiding us through our life should we choose to listen. Luke feels like his old friend Buck who died (we start the book at Buck's funeral) is guiding him to a life fulfilled by family. He believes Buck was the one telling him to meet the Brand clan out in Texas, and later, that Buck may even have bought Jasmine into his life. Or maybe it was Rosebud...or maybe it was God.
Another example, the author uses the idea of true love or soulmates. While she doesn't actually use either term, it's there for the reader to pick up. Usually I'd chalk it up to a type of Insta-love, but Shayne truly doesn't make it feel that way. The way she wrote the book, with both characters hating each other for complicating each other's lives and then Luke quickly realizing that maybe she was there for a reason (Jasmine, not so much). It was interesting and I found not the least bit aggravating. A true achievement in a world now full on insta-love novels.
I also didn't mind the ending. I have no idea why I didn't find it highly annoying. After all, one of my chief beefs with romance novels is the 'hasty wedding'. While this is a marriage done in a hospital room, I didn't mind it. Perhaps it's because Jasmine was hit so hard by the fact that she truly loved Luke, or maybe it was the fact that they both got a huge dose of how short life could be, but I honestly didn't mind the ending in the slightest. Heck for making me like such an ending, wow Maggie Shayne, I applaud you.
So the only thing that really got me was a few poorly formatted sentences that I had to read over once or twice to comprehend why I was stumbling over the wording. Other than that, that was actually a really good romance novel...and I have never said that before.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2017
A twist of other stories rolled up into this one. But it was fun
January 24, 2015
Luke Brand is a member of the huge Brand family but he has never met them. He is their illegitimate cousin that none of them know about. Luke was content living with only his mother who taught him they didn't need anybody else to have a good life. But when his good friend and mentor, Buck, died alone, Luke starting to realize that being alone was not necessarily the best way to live. He happened to get a load to Quinn, Texas with his transport truck, which happened to be where many of his cousins lived so he decided to visit them. He couldn't believe the welcome they gave him and encouraged him to stay.
Jasmine is a classically trained dancer who is working as an exotic dancer to pay the bills. She had to run into the club where she works to pick up her check. Instead of the quick in and out she expected, she and her son witnessed a murder and were spotted and shot at. She knows she has to get them out of there fast so pretends to be her roommate, Rosebud, and heads to a home Rosebud's mother left her in Quinn, Texas.
When she gets to the safe home, she finds Luke living there. She doesn't trust anyone any more and Luke has suspicions about Jasmine so it gets interesting as they try to get each other out of the house.
The character development was exceptionally well done so that we really get to know them. Jasmine is a wonderful mother who will do anything to protect her son, Baxter, and make him feel safe and happy. Baxter is a cute little guy who is terrified of the 'bad man' who might find him. Luke made a huge change in his life when he sold his transport truck and decided to settle down and buy a house. Too bad the house he wanted belonged to Jasmine (Buttercup) and she didn't want to sell.
I loved the way the Brand family stuck up for each other and always had each other's backs. The men dropped everything when one of the family needed help in any way. Even the women stuck up for each other. It was wonderful the way they helped Jasmine when she needed them.
The story line was really interesting and enjoyable. It was not what I expected which was that I thought Jasmine would go into Witness Protection. It was nice to see this story was different and she didn't.
I love the Brand family and want to read more books in this series.
Jasmine is a classically trained dancer who is working as an exotic dancer to pay the bills. She had to run into the club where she works to pick up her check. Instead of the quick in and out she expected, she and her son witnessed a murder and were spotted and shot at. She knows she has to get them out of there fast so pretends to be her roommate, Rosebud, and heads to a home Rosebud's mother left her in Quinn, Texas.
When she gets to the safe home, she finds Luke living there. She doesn't trust anyone any more and Luke has suspicions about Jasmine so it gets interesting as they try to get each other out of the house.
The character development was exceptionally well done so that we really get to know them. Jasmine is a wonderful mother who will do anything to protect her son, Baxter, and make him feel safe and happy. Baxter is a cute little guy who is terrified of the 'bad man' who might find him. Luke made a huge change in his life when he sold his transport truck and decided to settle down and buy a house. Too bad the house he wanted belonged to Jasmine (Buttercup) and she didn't want to sell.
I loved the way the Brand family stuck up for each other and always had each other's backs. The men dropped everything when one of the family needed help in any way. Even the women stuck up for each other. It was wonderful the way they helped Jasmine when she needed them.
The story line was really interesting and enjoyable. It was not what I expected which was that I thought Jasmine would go into Witness Protection. It was nice to see this story was different and she didn't.
I love the Brand family and want to read more books in this series.
February 1, 2015
Sara hasn't had a great life, she saw things no child should see.. When she was four she was playing an innocent game of hide and seek with her mama, but witnessed her mother and fathers murder... She spent the next twenty years in witness protection, to keep their murderer from finding her... All these years she thought her brother had died along with them, but later finds him and realises he thought she had died too and he ran.. now happy with her brother and cousins, they send her for a long needed vacation... While there she meets Jake, another lost soul, he spent twenty years in prison and its made him bitter... He warns her away, saying he's a bad boy, but Sara doesn't believe him and is determined to prove it... But then she witnesses the murder of his cousin, which makes him the prime suspect... Even though he didn't do it, he runs with Sara... His intention is to get her away from a killer and then leave he somewhere so he can get away.. But things don't always go to plan... I loved ever minute of their journey, it's so heart warming!!
April 27, 2014
Luke Brand is the illegitimate cousin of the Texas Brands. Although he knew he had a rather large family, he never intended to look them up until his mentor and friend Buck died alone. Luke drives his big-rig to Quinn, Texas to meet the family he never knew. What he didn't expect was to find the home he never had and now he doesn't intend on leaving.
Jasmine plans to run straight in and back out of the club where she works as an exotic dancer. Unfortunately, she and her son witness the murder of an undercover cop. She hightails it out of the city and heads straight for Quinn, Texas. She has no other choice but to pretend to be her best friend Rosebud and hide-out in the home Rosebud's mother left her when she died.
Coincidentally, this safe haven is occupied by none other than Luke Brand. Luke is suspicious of the woman, but knows the fear in her eyes is real. Can Luke protect Kara and her son? Will Kara trust Luke enough to let him in? Can love conquer all?
Jasmine plans to run straight in and back out of the club where she works as an exotic dancer. Unfortunately, she and her son witness the murder of an undercover cop. She hightails it out of the city and heads straight for Quinn, Texas. She has no other choice but to pretend to be her best friend Rosebud and hide-out in the home Rosebud's mother left her when she died.
Coincidentally, this safe haven is occupied by none other than Luke Brand. Luke is suspicious of the woman, but knows the fear in her eyes is real. Can Luke protect Kara and her son? Will Kara trust Luke enough to let him in? Can love conquer all?
April 26, 2014
Wow! Fantastic book! It'll keep you on the edge of your seats until the end.
Luke is a great hero and I loved the way he decided to change his way of life and put down roots, getting to know a family he didn't know he had. I love the Brand clan, every single member brings something to the story. At some point I wanted to be a part of that family too!
Jasmine is a fantastic heroine. She's been through a lot but she's ready to do anything to make her son happy and make him feel loved. Baxter, her son, is ADORABLE. He's so cute I wanted to hug him.
There's a lot of tension and angst, but there's also romance.
Warning: pick a day when you don't have to put the book down, because it's rather addictive and once you get hooked, you won't be able to stop reading.
I'll definitely read the other books in the series about the other members of the Brand family. I love this Texas clan!
Luke is a great hero and I loved the way he decided to change his way of life and put down roots, getting to know a family he didn't know he had. I love the Brand clan, every single member brings something to the story. At some point I wanted to be a part of that family too!
Jasmine is a fantastic heroine. She's been through a lot but she's ready to do anything to make her son happy and make him feel loved. Baxter, her son, is ADORABLE. He's so cute I wanted to hug him.
There's a lot of tension and angst, but there's also romance.
Warning: pick a day when you don't have to put the book down, because it's rather addictive and once you get hooked, you won't be able to stop reading.
I'll definitely read the other books in the series about the other members of the Brand family. I love this Texas clan!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews