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The Oklahoma Brands #6
Sweet Vidalia Brand
Oklahoma Brands, Book 6
A man from her past....
The secret Vidalia Brand has been keeping for decades is about to come out. Bobby Joe McIntrye is back in Big Falls, Oklahoma, and even he doesn’t know what really happened between them all those years ago.
A man’s last wish....
Just one perfect Christmas with the only women he’s ever loved–that’s all Bobby Joe wants in the time he has left.
A Christmas Miracle....
Holidays in Vidalia’s clan are known for their miracles, and this year, she’s asking for the biggest one of all.
The Oklahoma Brands
The Brands Who Came for Christmas
Brand New Heartache
Secrets and Lies
A Mommy For Christmas
One Magic Summer
Sweet Vidalia Brand
A man from her past....
The secret Vidalia Brand has been keeping for decades is about to come out. Bobby Joe McIntrye is back in Big Falls, Oklahoma, and even he doesn’t know what really happened between them all those years ago.
A man’s last wish....
Just one perfect Christmas with the only women he’s ever loved–that’s all Bobby Joe wants in the time he has left.
A Christmas Miracle....
Holidays in Vidalia’s clan are known for their miracles, and this year, she’s asking for the biggest one of all.
The Oklahoma Brands
The Brands Who Came for Christmas
Brand New Heartache
Secrets and Lies
A Mommy For Christmas
One Magic Summer
Sweet Vidalia Brand
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2014
343 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,571 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 2, 2017
This was a sweet book that I enjoyed very much I love all the Oklahoma Brands women as I have made my way through the series.
Maggie Shayne...another great read!
Maggie Shayne...another great read!
December 6, 2014
Sweet Vidalia review
Sweet Vidalia is my favorite of all of the six Oklahoma Brands books written by author Maggie Shayne. It's heartwarming and a perfect ending. Now, how about stories about Bobby Joe's sons?
Sweet Vidalia is my favorite of all of the six Oklahoma Brands books written by author Maggie Shayne. It's heartwarming and a perfect ending. Now, how about stories about Bobby Joe's sons?
February 6, 2017
loved it
December 27, 2018
Great Read!
I just Loved this book about the Mama Bear of the family, Vidalia. Everyone deserves a True Love! And Vidalia definitely deserves one! I enjoyed how Ms. Shayne wrote the scene when Bobbie Joe collapsed the second time! Writing from his point of view! Loved it! I think everyone who reads this book/series will definitely enjoy it! It is a book I will recommend it to others. Happy Reading!
I just Loved this book about the Mama Bear of the family, Vidalia. Everyone deserves a True Love! And Vidalia definitely deserves one! I enjoyed how Ms. Shayne wrote the scene when Bobbie Joe collapsed the second time! Writing from his point of view! Loved it! I think everyone who reads this book/series will definitely enjoy it! It is a book I will recommend it to others. Happy Reading!
December 22, 2016
Awwwnnn loved this story! I cant believe the OK girls are all beloved and cherised by their men! I didnt want to reach the end :) i love the story between Vidalia and Bobby, the past, the future, the love and forgiveness!!! I will love to know more about this gang and how life keep going for them! i'm sure soon they will still adding member to the clan! Already did with Bobby's boys!
July 25, 2019
Sweetest of all the series
February 3, 2025
This is the 6th and final book in the Oklahoma Brands series. This is more of a novella and it appears to be a bridge story - the final chapter in this series but a prequel to the Oklahoma McIntyres books. I found this book to be a lot more religious than most of the previous books. The 5th book was also religious but focused on a different religion. I also found the Christmas miracle in this books a little too much. 20 plus years ago, Vidalia hired Bobby Joe to help her convert an old building into a saloon. They connected during the construction but since Vidalia was married, they couldn't act on it, except they did the day before the saloon opened. They had been drinking and Bobby Joe couldn't really remember what exactly happened. Since he couldn't be with her, he left town. Now, he has returned and is turning the old feed store into a grand saloon. He has been hiding a secret from nearly everyone - he has a rare blood disease that will kill him if he can't get a bone marrow transplant but he has been unable to find a matching donor. He decides to spend the last months of his life with the one that got away. Vidalia never really got over Bobby Joe and all the old feeling resurfaced when he showed up. Will Vidalia be able to tell her secret before it is too late and will Bobby Joe tell his?
October 1, 2020
Vidalia’s story
The story line was fair at best. Maggie Shayne could have added more depth to both characters, in my opinion, to make the reading more enjoyable. It has a rushed like feeling to it as if the author wanted to get closure. The story lines for the five daughters were so much better than mom’s story.
It’s a shame, too, because this love story had so much potential of a long awaited love between two people who loved each other for so long yet lived separate lives just to reconnect years later.
I have already ordered the McIntyre series and hope it is as good or better.
If you haven’t read The Texas Brand series, you should. Those were pretty good as were the Oklahoma Brand’s as far as the sisters. They all have a good deal of humor and some sadness, except for Selene’s story. Her story was intriguing.
. (I’m having to watch where I am reading when in public with these series because there are some really great humorous parts that brings tears from laughing so hard. Try explaining that to your doctor when he walks in wanting to know why you’re “crying,”)
The story line was fair at best. Maggie Shayne could have added more depth to both characters, in my opinion, to make the reading more enjoyable. It has a rushed like feeling to it as if the author wanted to get closure. The story lines for the five daughters were so much better than mom’s story.
It’s a shame, too, because this love story had so much potential of a long awaited love between two people who loved each other for so long yet lived separate lives just to reconnect years later.
I have already ordered the McIntyre series and hope it is as good or better.
If you haven’t read The Texas Brand series, you should. Those were pretty good as were the Oklahoma Brand’s as far as the sisters. They all have a good deal of humor and some sadness, except for Selene’s story. Her story was intriguing.
. (I’m having to watch where I am reading when in public with these series because there are some really great humorous parts that brings tears from laughing so hard. Try explaining that to your doctor when he walks in wanting to know why you’re “crying,”)
August 3, 2020
This is the final book in this series about the Oklahoma Brands, and I am sad to see it end. "Sweet Vidalia Brand" by Maggie Shayne gives us Vidalia Brand's story and she is the Matriarch from the prior five stories. Turns out Vidalia, even though she a church going woman, was a little naughty in her past. She knew Bobby Joe McIntrye before he made his millions. For those who said that the story moved too fast, medically speaking, have you ever read a romance novel before? I mean most romance books are fast. The couple meets, knows each other a month or so, and then they decide to get married. It's a fun read. Now, I do recommend reading the series because the characters from each story are in each one. Books 1-6 The Oklahoma Brands Series:
The Brands Who Came for Christmas
Brand New Heartache
Secrets and Lies
A Mommy For Christmas
One Magic Summer
Sweet Vidalia Brand
The Brands Who Came for Christmas
Brand New Heartache
Secrets and Lies
A Mommy For Christmas
One Magic Summer
Sweet Vidalia Brand
December 22, 2022
Sweet Vidalia Brand (Oklahoma Brands Book 6)
So, this book is beautifully written and will make you laugh and cry at the same time. It's ALMOST the perfect wrap up for the Oklahoma Brands...
I say ALMOST because there's been some inferences in both Brands series that are really hanging out there... and because the McIntyre's lead in to the next series which means they'll bring the Brands in some degree or fashion.
So, this book is beautifully written and will make you laugh and cry at the same time. It's ALMOST the perfect wrap up for the Oklahoma Brands...
I say ALMOST because there's been some inferences in both Brands series that are really hanging out there... and because the McIntyre's lead in to the next series which means they'll bring the Brands in some degree or fashion.
May 26, 2019
THE BRANDS
I love this series already
Maggie Shayne your are a great writer.
I can't wait to read more Brand books
Vidalia is an awesome woman (so strong).
I have to admit I cried when I thought that Bobby Joe was going to die (even though i new he wouldnt),
All the brand's are strong people.
A great read to take your mind off of our real troubles.
I love this series already
Maggie Shayne your are a great writer.
I can't wait to read more Brand books
Vidalia is an awesome woman (so strong).
I have to admit I cried when I thought that Bobby Joe was going to die (even though i new he wouldnt),
All the brand's are strong people.
A great read to take your mind off of our real troubles.
March 26, 2022
Sweet but not much in the way of conflict, and possibly a fitting ending to the Oklahoma Brand series. Bobby Joe seemed a little too good to be true, but we now have an introduction to the McIntyre series, so I won't argue too much. Hopefully his sons Jason, Robert, and Joey will be more interesting. However, I'm going for the Shattered Sisters series next.
March 23, 2023
Great book
OMG! This is sure a tear jerker! Finding your one true love that makes you tingle when they tell you they Love You! Then you find out that you may not have him at all! God is Great! Just ask Vidalia and Bobby Joe! Sometimes 20years can disappear in the blink of an eye!!!
OMG! This is sure a tear jerker! Finding your one true love that makes you tingle when they tell you they Love You! Then you find out that you may not have him at all! God is Great! Just ask Vidalia and Bobby Joe! Sometimes 20years can disappear in the blink of an eye!!!
September 12, 2023
Sweet Vidalia
Hard to put into words the feelings this story evokes. Being a female and knowing how much you invest in a relationship really makes for a poignant and relevant story for me. I would like to impart more information about the correlation between my life and Bobby's but I don't want this to spoil the story for anyone! All things are possible through God.😊
Hard to put into words the feelings this story evokes. Being a female and knowing how much you invest in a relationship really makes for a poignant and relevant story for me. I would like to impart more information about the correlation between my life and Bobby's but I don't want this to spoil the story for anyone! All things are possible through God.😊
January 19, 2024
Outstanding ! Read it, you will like it!
I read the story of each of the five girls and thought they were all outstanding , each better than the previous. I almost didn't read the last of the series thinking the story about a 50 year old mother couldn't compete.
Boy, was I wrong! A real tear jerker and the best of the series.
Charles
I read the story of each of the five girls and thought they were all outstanding , each better than the previous. I almost didn't read the last of the series thinking the story about a 50 year old mother couldn't compete.
Boy, was I wrong! A real tear jerker and the best of the series.
Charles
September 30, 2024
Moms' Love
I just love the way she brings things together. A lost love of years gone past. The man you are to be with for life. The making of a blended family, even if the kids are grown. The announcement of a father and daughter bond just in time to save her father's life. What a great end for a Christmas dream come true.
I just love the way she brings things together. A lost love of years gone past. The man you are to be with for life. The making of a blended family, even if the kids are grown. The announcement of a father and daughter bond just in time to save her father's life. What a great end for a Christmas dream come true.
September 24, 2018
A Sweet Story
Maggie has done it again. I laughed, I cried, and I’m definitely going to read some more. I love a good western and this is a great family to read. She has scored another ten with me.
Maggie has done it again. I laughed, I cried, and I’m definitely going to read some more. I love a good western and this is a great family to read. She has scored another ten with me.
November 26, 2020
Brand series....
I loved reading he Brand series. These stories always lead to some very interesting adventures, if you read the first book, well you just have to keep reading. The stories keep you glued the the book, which is usually difficult to put down..
I loved reading he Brand series. These stories always lead to some very interesting adventures, if you read the first book, well you just have to keep reading. The stories keep you glued the the book, which is usually difficult to put down..
December 10, 2022
Great book!
I love these stories where each
book tags off of a previous book. I allows me to be already familiar with the characters like I know them. Also I love that your books are clean and wholesome
I love these stories where each
book tags off of a previous book. I allows me to be already familiar with the characters like I know them. Also I love that your books are clean and wholesome
April 16, 2024
I am hooked on this author. The stories are unique and the characters strong and real.
Each book is a whole new story, no reruns I have to allow time to read the whole thing or I can't stop and sleep. Reccomend highly!
Each book is a whole new story, no reruns I have to allow time to read the whole thing or I can't stop and sleep. Reccomend highly!
December 31, 2024
Review
A mistake he didn’t remember but she for over twenty years and kept to herself. He comes back into town knowing he doesn’t have much time left and needing to see the woman he had loved for
r more than twenty years .
Enjoy
A mistake he didn’t remember but she for over twenty years and kept to herself. He comes back into town knowing he doesn’t have much time left and needing to see the woman he had loved for
r more than twenty years .
Enjoy
February 24, 2018
This was a great way to end this series. Vidalia and Bobbies story is so touching. All emotions range through this book. A terrific read.
December 31, 2019
Good series
Wonderful series with feisty characters. The women are super fun and interesting while the alpha men are deserving of them.
Wonderful series with feisty characters. The women are super fun and interesting while the alpha men are deserving of them.
June 28, 2021
Oklahoma Brands book 6
I loved this series. I was very excited that book 6 was out. It is a fast read and was so fun
I loved this series. I was very excited that book 6 was out. It is a fast read and was so fun
February 5, 2023
Great story
Yea, love Vidalia!! Great Christmas love story. The Brands are great characters and they are so real!!! If you haven’t read all the books you are missing out!!
Yea, love Vidalia!! Great Christmas love story. The Brands are great characters and they are so real!!! If you haven’t read all the books you are missing out!!
October 18, 2024
Y por fin... La mamá!
Ultimo libro de la serie Oklahoma Brands, y por suerte hay otra serie después! Estos libros son adictivos, me encantan!
Ultimo libro de la serie Oklahoma Brands, y por suerte hay otra serie después! Estos libros son adictivos, me encantan!
December 14, 2024
Outstanding
Full of suspense and reality. Imperfect characters with strong faith and family's strong bond through lifetime struggles. God's blessings at the perfect time of the year
Full of suspense and reality. Imperfect characters with strong faith and family's strong bond through lifetime struggles. God's blessings at the perfect time of the year
March 30, 2025
Loved every book
Both of the Brands series were so good! I loved how they backed each other up because they are one family. Strong women all around.
Both of the Brands series were so good! I loved how they backed each other up because they are one family. Strong women all around.
June 10, 2025
I could feel the love in this story. It was beautiful. This book touched home with me. This book made me cry.
January 5, 2015
This is a hard review for me to write. I have very mixed feelings about this book. Reading this short novel about Vidalia was a happy/sad experience for me. It is the last book in this series, hence the sad part. And I was excited to finally read about Vidalia and hoping for a happy ending for her. *I dont do spoilers*
First off I want to say that I have bought & read every single book in this series The Oklahoma Brands and the series before it The Texas Brands. I LOVED THEM ALL !!!
The story itself I will give 4 stars:
This novel is the last book in this series and I was disappointed in its length of only 120 pages. *sigh* I loved every book in this series and when I finally bought Sweet Vidalia Brand I couldn't wait to hear about Vidalia's story & to hopefully read a wonderful romance for this Strong Female character, that I fell in love with, who raised her daughters as a single mother. But what I got was a short story that left me wanting more. I hate to say this, because I love Maggie Shayne & this series. The book felt rushed and it left me still wanting to know more. I liked what I got, but it could have been AMAZING and should have been.
Steam factor is a 1 star. There are not any steamy adult scenes. Here again I was disappointed. All the other books were 3.5 stars in the series. Great romance, Great "fan yourself" worthy bedroom scenes. In "Sweet Vidalia Brand" it was just mentioned in brief comments. This is sad for me. I know Vidalia is 50, but I'm 44 years old and have friends who are in their 50's, so I can tell you that our sex life is still going strong. Older doesn't mean the fun is gone. I honestly believe this book could have knocked our socks off if it was longer and told more of her story in better detail.
In closing I can say this, Its a short novel thats well written and can be read in one or two hours. I liked it for what WAS written. and it brings us to a close with the wonderful Oklahoma Brands that we have all come to love. I was just hoping for more.
First off I want to say that I have bought & read every single book in this series The Oklahoma Brands and the series before it The Texas Brands. I LOVED THEM ALL !!!
The story itself I will give 4 stars:
This novel is the last book in this series and I was disappointed in its length of only 120 pages. *sigh* I loved every book in this series and when I finally bought Sweet Vidalia Brand I couldn't wait to hear about Vidalia's story & to hopefully read a wonderful romance for this Strong Female character, that I fell in love with, who raised her daughters as a single mother. But what I got was a short story that left me wanting more. I hate to say this, because I love Maggie Shayne & this series. The book felt rushed and it left me still wanting to know more. I liked what I got, but it could have been AMAZING and should have been.
Steam factor is a 1 star. There are not any steamy adult scenes. Here again I was disappointed. All the other books were 3.5 stars in the series. Great romance, Great "fan yourself" worthy bedroom scenes. In "Sweet Vidalia Brand" it was just mentioned in brief comments. This is sad for me. I know Vidalia is 50, but I'm 44 years old and have friends who are in their 50's, so I can tell you that our sex life is still going strong. Older doesn't mean the fun is gone. I honestly believe this book could have knocked our socks off if it was longer and told more of her story in better detail.
In closing I can say this, Its a short novel thats well written and can be read in one or two hours. I liked it for what WAS written. and it brings us to a close with the wonderful Oklahoma Brands that we have all come to love. I was just hoping for more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews