TO CATCH
A TEXAS STAR
Texas Heroes, Book 3
by
LINDA BRODAY
by
LINDA BRODAY
Genre: Western / Historical / Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of Publication: July 3, 2018
Number of Pages: 352
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On her way to town early one morning, Marley Rose McClain finds a man unconscious and bleeding at the side of the road. She loads him in the wagon and takes him to her family ranch.
Drifter Roan Penny fights for his life, his one goal eating at him—to find the ones who murdered his best friend. As he recovers, he finds himself falling in love with Marley. She’s everything he wants and dreams of making her his wife even as he knows it’s impossible.
A terrifying stranger appears and a long-kept secret shakes Marley to the core. Roan helps her through very frightening times and they pledge their love for each other.
As Roan hunts down the hooded men who killed his friend and grows closer to learning the truth of the stranger’s identity, he finds both himself and Marley being stalked.
Shocking events unfold, secrets come to light, and a love refuses to be denied in this cat and mouse game where danger lurks around every corner. Will Roan and Marley survive to see the future they plan?
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YAY! A story just for Marley Rose. I was super excited to read this novel. Marley was one of my favorite characters from Knight on the Texas Plains. Ok, sure. There’s no Cheeba. But it has been close to 20 years since we met Marley as a toddler. So I guess that can be forgiven!
I adore Marley and her spirit. She’s feisty and independent, both great qualities in a heroine. As Marley tells her father, Duel:
“I’ll be fine,” Marley assured him. “I’m not some spineless little girl who wrings her hands and waits for someone to ride to her rescue.”
Bonus point for self-rescuing princesses!
I also appreciate that Ms. Brody writes Marley as a storyteller and artist. Marley creates stories for all the children. She also attempts to illustrate her stories with paintings and drawings. Her ability to take a small idea and make it into an full story is amazing. I’m guessing it’s a similar process that Ms. Brody goes through when writing her novels.
Roan had a rough childhood and not much better luck as an adult. But what really impresses me is that, despite all his hardship, he’s capable of loving, protecting, and supporting Marley. I also really admire the connection Roan has with the adopted kids on the ranch, especially Matt. Roan sees himself in Matt and shows his true character when he’s around the children.
The romance between Marley and Roan is believable, if a bit rushed. I welcomed how they support and encourage each other. For example, Roan encourages Marley to submit her stories to a publisher. And when none of the ranch hands are available to support Roan during his horse race in the next county, Marley is there for him. These two characters really bring out the best in each other.
My favorite secondary character in To Catch a Texas Star is definitely Granny Jack. She’s a hoot. And I’m totally making her catch phrase my own!
“Honey, every tub has got to sit on its own bottom.”
That makes me laugh each time I think about it. Classic Granny Jack!
I also really enjoyed catching up with Duel and Jessie from Knight on the Texas Plains. For me, it’s always great to see a couple I fell in love with still happily in love after close to twenty years together.
The romance in To Catch a Texas Star may have caught my initial attention, but the mystery plot kept me reading. Ms. Brody does a fabulous job weaving together separate plot lines of discovering who is trying to destroy the Aces ‘n’ Eights Ranch by wrangling cattle with the mystery of who killed Roan’s friend Mose and left Roan for dead. There were a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming in the road. Kudos to Ms. Broday for seamlessly blending the plot!
Overall, To Catch a Texas Star is a great historic romance with strong, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!
4 1/2 Stars!
Thanks to author Linda Broday and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing this opportunity to review To Catch a Texas Star. I received the novel free in exchange for my honest review.
Praise for To Catch a Texas Star:
“Fans of the previous books will enjoy returning to the McClain clan, and new readers will appreciate the story’s layered mysteries, emotional depth, and believable scenes of attraction.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“I loved the twists and turns that this story takes. It is pretty interesting seeing this romance blossom and how much their relationship strengthens as they face danger and the truth together.” — Addicted to Romance
“Marley Rose has one of the most gentle and winsome souls; her affection and compassion for others and delightful creativity pour off the pages and you can’t help but adore her.” — Michelle (Goodreads)
“Fans of the previous books will enjoy returning to the McClain clan, and new readers will appreciate the story’s layered mysteries, emotional depth, and believable scenes of attraction.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“I loved the twists and turns that this story takes. It is pretty interesting seeing this romance blossom and how much their relationship strengthens as they face danger and the truth together.” — Addicted to Romance
“Marley Rose has one of the most gentle and winsome souls; her affection and compassion for others and delightful creativity pour off the pages and you can’t help but adore her.” — Michelle (Goodreads)
Linda is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of full length historical western romance novels and novellas. She’s published over twenty books and short stories and resides in the Texas Panhandle on land the American Indian and Comancheros once roamed. On a quiet day, she can often hear their voices whispering in the wind.
The love of this state and its people runs bone deep and she instills that into each book she writes. She sets all her stories in Texas because of the rich history and interesting people.
A mother, grandmother, and soon to be a great grandmother, Linda finds research fascinating and always looks for little known tidbits to add realism to her stories. When she’s not writing, she collects old coins and confesses to being a rock hound in addition to making herself a nuisance at museums, libraries, and historical places which inspire her.
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
Grand Prize: Signed Copies of Full Texas Heroes Series
Five Runners-Up: Signed Copies of To Catch a Texas Star
Five Runners-Up: Signed Copies of To Catch a Texas Star
(US ONLY)
July 3-12, 2018
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Love all of Linda’s books and cannot wait to read this one!
I hope you enjoy it, Teresa!
Teresa, thank you for coming over. I’m putting out good vibes and saying prayers that you’ll win a copy…or the whole set! Big hugs!
Reading ebook now, loving it. But would love to wine signed copies?
Good luck, Tonya!
Hi Tonya Cherry! Great to see you over here. I noticed you finished and that you for your wonderful review! Big hugs!
Linda- I’m so glad you finally are able to give us the happy ending you always promised Marley. I loved this book, my favorite by you yet.
Agreed, Tonya. It’s my favorite as well!
Tonya Lucas, I’m so happy that I could write Marley’s story and finish that out. It needed to have that full circle. Now, I know I did my friend justice and got her the happy ending that life here denied her. I’m so glad you liked it.
Oh, Lynn! Bless you for that wonderful review! It thrilled my heart to know how much you liked Roan’s and Marley’s story. I had such fun writing this and Granny Jack did indeed add much humor. I based her on my own grandmother who looked at life realistically. No rose-colored glasses for her. Everyone has to do their own stuff. And Matt added an extra layer of emotion. He was so sweet to his Mama Rose.
Thanks for the great story, Linda! And I’m glad to hear how you based Granny Jack on your own grandmother. I bet she was a blast!
Lynn, my grandmother wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone. She was very crusty and dipped snuff. I was always afraid I’d knock over her spit can.
hahaha – that’s great, Linda!
sounds like this has something for every reader to enjoy. (except dinosaurs and aliens!) Thanks for a great review!
Kristine, nope, no dinosaurs or aliens. Ha! Maybe next time. This is just two people in love, working through the hard times. This review thrilled my heart and I’m very thankful for each word and that Lynn found this story one to recommend.
I look forward to that dinosaurs and aliens book, Linda! I’d totally read that!