What do you think?
Rate this book
The Texas Brands #5
The Lone Cowboy
Originally Titled: That Mysterious Texas Brand Man and Texas Guardian
Marcus doesn’t celebrate Christmas anymore. Not since the holiday massacre of his entire family left him an orphaned child, traumatized and alone. Taken in by a reclusive billionaire with a secret identity, Marcus was trained to take the older man’s place when he could no longer serve as the elusive crime-fighter known as The Guardian.
Casey is a reporter, but unlike every other member of the press, she’s not after The Guardian to unmask him. She needs his help to protect her younger sister. Someone from her shadowy past is after her, and Casey is sure she’s in danger.
Marcus couldn’t have known that helping Casey would bring him into the midst of the huge loving family he never knew he had, much less into Casey’s loving arms. Or that helping Casey would unwrap a Christmas Miracle that would heal his wounded heart.
This book is part of Maggie Shayne’s TEXAS BRAND SERIES
Texas Guardian, Texas Angel, Texas Homecoming, The Littlest Cowboy, The Baddest Virgin in Texas, Badlands Bad Boy, The Husband She Couldn’t Remember, The Baddest Bride in Texas, and The Outlaw Bride.
“I read a lot of romance novels and this is one to treasure heart and soul. A perfect book and a perfect author.” –An Amazon Reader
NY Times Bestselling Author, RITA Award Winner and former television writer Maggie Shayne has authored close to 60 novels.
Marcus doesn’t celebrate Christmas anymore. Not since the holiday massacre of his entire family left him an orphaned child, traumatized and alone. Taken in by a reclusive billionaire with a secret identity, Marcus was trained to take the older man’s place when he could no longer serve as the elusive crime-fighter known as The Guardian.
Casey is a reporter, but unlike every other member of the press, she’s not after The Guardian to unmask him. She needs his help to protect her younger sister. Someone from her shadowy past is after her, and Casey is sure she’s in danger.
Marcus couldn’t have known that helping Casey would bring him into the midst of the huge loving family he never knew he had, much less into Casey’s loving arms. Or that helping Casey would unwrap a Christmas Miracle that would heal his wounded heart.
This book is part of Maggie Shayne’s TEXAS BRAND SERIES
Texas Guardian, Texas Angel, Texas Homecoming, The Littlest Cowboy, The Baddest Virgin in Texas, Badlands Bad Boy, The Husband She Couldn’t Remember, The Baddest Bride in Texas, and The Outlaw Bride.
“I read a lot of romance novels and this is one to treasure heart and soul. A perfect book and a perfect author.” –An Amazon Reader
NY Times Bestselling Author, RITA Award Winner and former television writer Maggie Shayne has authored close to 60 novels.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1998
448 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,574 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 31 reviews
July 14, 2025
Great read
Fun, suspenseful, and love, what more do you want! I do have to admit, if I could figure out the ending, anyone can! Still, I enjoyed it very much. On to the next book!
Fun, suspenseful, and love, what more do you want! I do have to admit, if I could figure out the ending, anyone can! Still, I enjoyed it very much. On to the next book!
March 22, 2022
I found this one ridiculous. I couldn't get a handle on Marcus, who seemed all over the board, and it seemed pretty obvious who Laura was. I also didn't care for Casey's nosiness. Being a reporter is no excuse for digging into people's personal lives. Mayve I'm being a little harsh here, but the book just struck me as being off.
April 27, 2014
Do you like romance? Do you like Mystery? Do you like superheroes?
If you can answer yes to any of the questions above, then this book is for you! Hurry grab it now!
Marcus Brand doesn't celebrate Christmas, not since his family was murdered in front of him during the holiday. The orphaned child was taken in by the mysterious billionaire Caine. On his death bed, Caine left everything to Marcus. Everything including his secret identity - The Guardian!
Silver City's Guardian is a mysterious man who steps in to deliver justice and protect the innocent. After being named one of the world's most eligible bachelor's by Prominence Magazine, the Guardian finds it hard to do his job. The press will try anything to get a glimpse of his face and reveal his identity.
Casey Jones is a reporter - a very good reporter. Unlike the rest of the press, Casey does not want to unmask the Guardian. She needs his help. Her sister is in danger and she will do anything to protect her from the demons in her past.
Marcus agrees to help protect Casey's sister and the secrets he uncovers threaten his very identity. Will the Silver City's Guardian find love in Texas?
Marcus will find love and more in Maggie Shayne's Texas Guardian!
If you can answer yes to any of the questions above, then this book is for you! Hurry grab it now!
Marcus Brand doesn't celebrate Christmas, not since his family was murdered in front of him during the holiday. The orphaned child was taken in by the mysterious billionaire Caine. On his death bed, Caine left everything to Marcus. Everything including his secret identity - The Guardian!
Silver City's Guardian is a mysterious man who steps in to deliver justice and protect the innocent. After being named one of the world's most eligible bachelor's by Prominence Magazine, the Guardian finds it hard to do his job. The press will try anything to get a glimpse of his face and reveal his identity.
Casey Jones is a reporter - a very good reporter. Unlike the rest of the press, Casey does not want to unmask the Guardian. She needs his help. Her sister is in danger and she will do anything to protect her from the demons in her past.
Marcus agrees to help protect Casey's sister and the secrets he uncovers threaten his very identity. Will the Silver City's Guardian find love in Texas?
Marcus will find love and more in Maggie Shayne's Texas Guardian!
March 12, 2018
Another piece of the Brand puzzle....
And just as intense and intriguing at the ones before it. I am excited to begin reading the next one. Can’t imagine not reading them in order and hope everyone does, too.
And just as intense and intriguing at the ones before it. I am excited to begin reading the next one. Can’t imagine not reading them in order and hope everyone does, too.
January 13, 2025
I found this to be a quick, enjoyable addition to the series. It draws heavily on the Zorro legend. In the 5th book of the series, we get introduced to some new characters in the Brand family. Marcus was just a child when his father came home and told the family they needed to leave immediately. He sent Marcus to the basement to get their suitcases and while he was down there, he heard a massive amount of automatic gunfire in his house. When it was over and he ventured up the stairs, the house was riddled with bullet holes and there was blood all over. He assumed his entire family was massacred. Caine found the child and raised him as his own. Caine was a solitary figure and trained Marcus in all manner of fighting and defending ones-self. When Caine is shot saving Marcus's life, Marcus learns that Caine has been the mysterious Silver City Guardian for years. He tasks Marcus with taking on the role of The Guardian and leaves everything he has to Marcus. Casey has always known that her adopted sister, Laura, is keeping some kind of secret. When their house is vandalized, Casey is afraid for her sister's life. She hatches a scheme to find the mysterious Guardian and convince him to help Laura. Amazingly, her plan works and The Guardian agrees to help them. Marcus is immediately intrigued and hopelessly attracted Casey. Can he stay focused long enough to protect Laura and Casey. Will he be able to walk away or will they sisters change his life forever? In the meantime, we learn that Marcus is a cousin to the Brands whom they all thought was dead a long time ago.
January 19, 2020
Ok i am going to be that person. I was first if very annoyed at the turn this series took when I saw Marcus was some vigilante superhero. Lets me real here some random guy walking down the street just takes the kid knowing his parents were murdered. I think not. Then immediately we are introduced to Casey and her sister Laura which isn’t her real name and she’s known this since they were children and just asked her about it now. Lord help us all this is stupid.
Ok that was all my negative because I immediately knew who “Laura” was the second Casey asked her what her name was and what secrets were ailing her. Then when she met Marcus and reacted to his name. Yup! Totally predictable. Casey and Laura’s relationship I loved from the start and the banter between Casey and Marcus I also enjoyed. I like the insta attraction between the two.
I love the suspense of waiting for Marcus and Laura to know who Laura really is. They mystery and drama also peeked my interest. Casey is sort of meh with her I understand he’s pushing me away and I’ll make him see attitude but it just makes her character. Regardless it was a really good storyline and I enjoyed it. I just wish instead of being some ridiculous and vigilante super hero Marcus could’ve been like an undercover agent or a body guard or anything more realistic. Either way I made him that way in my mind so the story would be more enjoyable. I really did like it and the characters.
Ok that was all my negative because I immediately knew who “Laura” was the second Casey asked her what her name was and what secrets were ailing her. Then when she met Marcus and reacted to his name. Yup! Totally predictable. Casey and Laura’s relationship I loved from the start and the banter between Casey and Marcus I also enjoyed. I like the insta attraction between the two.
I love the suspense of waiting for Marcus and Laura to know who Laura really is. They mystery and drama also peeked my interest. Casey is sort of meh with her I understand he’s pushing me away and I’ll make him see attitude but it just makes her character. Regardless it was a really good storyline and I enjoyed it. I just wish instead of being some ridiculous and vigilante super hero Marcus could’ve been like an undercover agent or a body guard or anything more realistic. Either way I made him that way in my mind so the story would be more enjoyable. I really did like it and the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2024
Long lost Family
This book starts out a little slow. Then it grabs hold of you and keeps you on edge until it gives you reason to keep reading. The character acts as if he wants to be alone. In the end it his sidekick is the true superhero. He finds people who need help and train them to help and protect others. In this way they find their way in life again. This was a great story.
This book starts out a little slow. Then it grabs hold of you and keeps you on edge until it gives you reason to keep reading. The character acts as if he wants to be alone. In the end it his sidekick is the true superhero. He finds people who need help and train them to help and protect others. In this way they find their way in life again. This was a great story.
January 3, 2019
Awesome Read!
I really enjoyed reading this book! This story is about a family where something terrible happened to the mother and father, leaving many to believe the same about their 2 children! This is a sad story with a happy ending! This is a book that I will recommend to others!
I really enjoyed reading this book! This story is about a family where something terrible happened to the mother and father, leaving many to believe the same about their 2 children! This is a sad story with a happy ending! This is a book that I will recommend to others!
December 14, 2022
The Lone Cowboy (The Texas Brands Book 5)
The Lone Cowboy is my favorite story line so far. I loved it.
It's presentation is just as shrouded and somewhat convoluted as the previous ones with most of the book circling around itself until it all makes sense in the last few chapters. This one also has several typos.
The Lone Cowboy is my favorite story line so far. I loved it.
It's presentation is just as shrouded and somewhat convoluted as the previous ones with most of the book circling around itself until it all makes sense in the last few chapters. This one also has several typos.
December 19, 2022
BRANDS GET BETTER, EACH BOOK!!
ABSOLUTELY RIVETING.
Couldn't put the darn Kindle down!!
Still, rapid breathing; YES, I HELD MY BREATH.
AMAZON, I HATE YOU AS I MUST SHARE THE KINDLE ACCOUNT...STUPID.
MAGGIE SHAYNE, AUTHOR, YOU ARE STUCK WITH ME.
Sincerely, 5*****,
Bobi Holbrook (Mrs WFH)
SCENE SPOILER: ( Marcus spun in front seat, LEFT??!!
NO, he wouldn't.)
ABSOLUTELY RIVETING.
Couldn't put the darn Kindle down!!
Still, rapid breathing; YES, I HELD MY BREATH.
AMAZON, I HATE YOU AS I MUST SHARE THE KINDLE ACCOUNT...STUPID.
MAGGIE SHAYNE, AUTHOR, YOU ARE STUCK WITH ME.
Sincerely, 5*****,
Bobi Holbrook (Mrs WFH)
SCENE SPOILER: ( Marcus spun in front seat, LEFT??!!
NO, he wouldn't.)
February 24, 2023
This one felt differently than the previous books
But I did like it. A few spelling issues. So many current books have spelling issues. Don't know what the editors have for an education. Ok on to the next one.
But I did like it. A few spelling issues. So many current books have spelling issues. Don't know what the editors have for an education. Ok on to the next one.
March 6, 2023
Great book
A lot different than the other Texas Brand books. But it looks like the Brands of Texas just got bigger! Casey,Sara, and Marcus all got the questions of their past answered and taken away! They are now back to being the family they we're meant to be! Enjoy!
A lot different than the other Texas Brand books. But it looks like the Brands of Texas just got bigger! Casey,Sara, and Marcus all got the questions of their past answered and taken away! They are now back to being the family they we're meant to be! Enjoy!
December 19, 2024
Oh my
If nothing more, read this story's ending. Maybe I could have guessed how it ends but it was for me the perfect ending. This starts and ends with Christmas but it could be anytime to find love.
If nothing more, read this story's ending. Maybe I could have guessed how it ends but it was for me the perfect ending. This starts and ends with Christmas but it could be anytime to find love.
June 2, 2023
An enjoyable fun read
I enjoyed this book. It moved pretty fast. The ending had a surprise. I look forward to reading the next book.
I enjoyed this book. It moved pretty fast. The ending had a surprise. I look forward to reading the next book.
September 20, 2023
Too episodal. She recovers too quickly. Having sex the day she's released from hospital??
May 29, 2024
Another Great Novel
Loaded with drama and suspense just the way I like. I had a feeling about midway how it was going to end.
Loaded with drama and suspense just the way I like. I had a feeling about midway how it was going to end.
November 20, 2017
Marcus & Casey...such a great pair, and I love the reunion of long-lost family! Enjoyed the back story of Marcus, a "real-life" hero! And Casey's way of getting his attention to help her & her sister was ingenious!
March 6, 2016
Only 2-3 stars because the writing & punctuation was terrible! What is up with her use of colons & lack of periods, which were the worse. But also some really weird sentences which you read and say, "Huh?"
Disappointed from the beginning. Does read like her other books. Seems sloppy. And already at 16%, she uses the name Del & on the 3rd time (same page) spells it Dell!! And a lot of punctuation is missing. Feels like an early draft.
I wouldn't be reading this if not for the rest of the series.
About the last 1-7% it picked up & felt more like her other works. Big sigh of relief that that one is over!
Disappointed from the beginning. Does read like her other books. Seems sloppy. And already at 16%, she uses the name Del & on the 3rd time (same page) spells it Dell!! And a lot of punctuation is missing. Feels like an early draft.
I wouldn't be reading this if not for the rest of the series.
About the last 1-7% it picked up & felt more like her other works. Big sigh of relief that that one is over!
August 8, 2008
This book was like a superhero book! Very different from the Brand books! Fun though! Book 5 in the Brand series.
This is the story of Marcus Brand (a cousin of The Texas Brands) and his HEA Casey. They live in Dallas in Casey's family house. Casey is a reporter and Marcus works behind the scenes for police departments and government agencies.
This is the story of Marcus Brand (a cousin of The Texas Brands) and his HEA Casey. They live in Dallas in Casey's family house. Casey is a reporter and Marcus works behind the scenes for police departments and government agencies.
January 22, 2015
After witnessing his family being murdered, Marcus spends the next 22 years trying to block it out... Living a solitary life, never letting people close, for the fear of losing them... That is until he's asked for help by Casey, her sisters life is in danger and Marcus decides to help... sparks fly and tears fall.. I loved every minute of this book!!
Read
April 17, 2015Truly Awesome And Very Heart Touching
This was so darn good and it moved like lighting speed.
The story is wonderful heart touching and just plane ole sweet I lived reading this book it really touched my heart even brought a tear to my eyes.
Maggie Shayn
is one great story teller if it has her it is going to an all nighter book for sure
This was so darn good and it moved like lighting speed.
The story is wonderful heart touching and just plane ole sweet I lived reading this book it really touched my heart even brought a tear to my eyes.
Maggie Shayn
is one great story teller if it has her it is going to an all nighter book for sure
February 10, 2017
Marcus and Casey fall into a bound that is rare with out even looking for it. Casey is looking to protect her sister and Marcus is just looking to continue his adopted fathers legacy. They each find so much more than that. Great reading with action, passion, and surprises. Loved it.
Look forward to more Brands
Look forward to more Brands
October 19, 2014
Boring book
Within the first 6 pages you already knew what the entire book was about. You knew what the premise was and how it would end. There were no surprises I was shocked that Maggie Shayne would write such a book as I have been a fan of hers for many, many years.
Within the first 6 pages you already knew what the entire book was about. You knew what the premise was and how it would end. There were no surprises I was shocked that Maggie Shayne would write such a book as I have been a fan of hers for many, many years.
June 24, 2015
The Guardian, who is he?
I really did enjoy this story, although I missed all the antics of the Branch family. This was more of a mystery, but very good story. Lots of twists, with less romance.
I really did enjoy this story, although I missed all the antics of the Branch family. This was more of a mystery, but very good story. Lots of twists, with less romance.
January 13, 2014
a trifle melodramatic. lone wolf fights for victims of crime finds not only a long lost sister, the man who murdered his parents but the love of his life.
January 19, 2015
danger! excitement! love! this was fun! great ending! mystery, fear, sadness, loss, love, all great aspects to this story.
October 8, 2015
This one was fairly enjoyable, for all that it was about people we didn't even know existed until this book, so it didn't really fit into the series the same way.
December 15, 2015
A tear jerker
Loved this story even though I cried through most of it. This is one of the best series I've ever read and I can't wait to read the rest.
Loved this story even though I cried through most of it. This is one of the best series I've ever read and I can't wait to read the rest.
March 16, 2016
Amazing series
I read it in 15 hours I love series that involve families and romance. I love all of maggie shayne's books
I read it in 15 hours I love series that involve families and romance. I love all of maggie shayne's books
February 6, 2017
Not my favorite Brand story. But it was fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews