Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Lady Emma Wells-Finch, the headmistress of St. Gertrude's School for Girls in England, has arrived in Wynette, Texas with a mission: She's determined to rid herself of her spotless reputation in order to save everything she holds dear. Kenny Traveler, by all accounts the laziest pro golfer the world has ever seen, is equally determined Emma will arrive back home with her reputation intact. After all, the only reason he isn't at the Master's is because he has to restore his reputation. Emma is set on causing a scandal, but Kenny is ready to do everything in his power to stop her.

384 pages.

The Valiant Women by Jeanne Williams

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

A romantic saga set in Arizona territory with action featuring Apache, Mexico, and Texas territory before the Civil War and many families and plots. 

Audio:  15 hrs. 55 min.

Print:  516 pages

"A Deadly Secret" by Matt Birkbeck

The subtitle of this true crime book is "The Bizarre and Chilling Story of Robert Durst."  I recently viewed "The Jinx", a documentary about Durst and the 1982 disappearance of his first wife, Kathie, and I wanted to know more about the case.  This book seemed to be the most in-depth and was first published in 2002; the edition that I read was updated in March of 2015, after "The Jinx" had aired on HBO.

However, this is not just about Kathie's disappearance but also about the murder of Morris Black, a Texas drifter killed and dismembered by Durst in 2001.  The author interviewed the major players in both cases, including the police, private detectives, Kathie's family and friends, prosecutors, and witnesses.  He does a thorough job of going through details and using them to show that Durst is a sociopath.  The only quibble I have is with the way the author uses quotations of conversations for which he wasn't present nor were recorded.  Durst is currently being held in Louisiana on an illegal firearms violation but has been charged in California with the 2000 death of his friend Susan Berman.  That case is also covered in the book.  299 pages.

"After the Sunset" by Mary Calmes

This follow-up to "Timing" begins two years after that book ended and finds Stefan Joss living in Texas at Rand Holloway's ranch.  Due to suspicious timing and an odd rodeo rule, Stefan, the ultimate city boy, ends up taking the ranch hands to a rodeo where they all must compete or lose part of the ranch.  Unfortunately, Rand, the alpha cowboy, is away helping family and doesn't know that part of his beloved ranch is in the soft hands of Stefan.  As with "Timing," events were implausible, so a real suspension of disbelief was needed with all the drama at the rodeo and then with family near the end of the book.  It was enjoyable for the most part.  180 pages (Kindle edition).

"Timing" by Mary Calmes

Stefan Joss goes to Texas to be the man of honor for his best friend's wedding and to wrap up a business deal for his company.  Unfortunately, his best friend's brother is sure the be there, probably to insult him as he has since they first met 10 years ago.  However, Rand Holloway has had a change of heart where Stefan is concerned and no longer wants to antagonize him but to win him over.  That's the main storyline in this book, but there was much more going on for Stefan - surviving a big Texas wedding with drunk friends and relatives, helping a cow give birth, nearly being run over while jogging, and being locked in a burning house.  It was really too much to take place over less than a week's time.  There were also some disjointed parts that weren't really fleshed out, but I am planning to read the follow up to it.  230 pages (Kindle edition).

Thunder on the Dos Gatos by Paul Bagdon

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

The bridge at this town is down and the cattle being driven to market are waiting here for another bridge to be built. The cattlemen threaten the town and the town is afraid of a stampede that could wipe it out.  Romance, murder, kidnapping and a stampede. 

Audio:  6 hrs. 9 min.

Print:  189 pages

"Texas Pride" by Kindle Alexander

Kitt Kelly raises cattle and horses on his ranch in Texas.  He lives a simple but closeted life in his small hometown helping out his widowed stepmother and younger sisters.  When he discovers that his high school crush, Austin Grainger, has secretly purchased the portion of his ranch that he had to sell, his feelings are thrown into turmoil.  Fortunately, Austin is now a big movie star with a beautiful fiancee waiting for him to return to California after he gets tired of Texas, so Kitt knows that he can never act on his feelings.  What he doesn't know is that Austin is even deeper in the closet, that his fiancee is really just a "beard," and that he has no intention of returning to Hollywood.  When Austin gets his first look at Kitt since leaving town after high school, he knows that the can't deny his feelings for him again.  However, Austin is trying to prevent the locals as well as the media from finding out that he's the newest landowner in town.

The writing and story were well done and kept me interested in finding out what happened next.  The relationship between two closeted men who believe that they can't come out without serious consequences propels the action at a good pace.  As their feelings blossom, they both must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to truly be themselves and be happy.  Several twists with both Austin and Kitt make this book even better.  289 pages (Kindle edition).

"Stars & Stripes" by Abigail Roux

Book number six in the Cut & Run series begins with relative calm in the lives of FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett.  There have been no extremely dangerous cases or chases with bad guys since returning from their harrowing trip from Chicago in the company of Julian Cross (in book five) a few months ago.  Even their personal relationship is going well until Zane is called away to his estranged family in Texas when a relative is shot. Unable to stay away, Ty soon follows.  Although not there in an official capacity, they can't help but investigate the criminal activity in the area.

There's much more to this book than my short description, but to say anymore would be major spoilers.  I'll just say that both Zane's and Ty's families (both parents and siblings) are visited and lots of progress is made with each.  Most of the book takes place in the hill country of Texas where Zane's family owns a very large ranch and most everyone knows him and them.  His mother and father are quite the characters, and Zane's exchanges with them are very well written.  However, Ty's interactions with the animals are truly priceless.  Roux has me hooked on this series and her two main characters; I can't wait to read more!  275 pages (Kindle edition).