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Under a Texas Star
Disguised as a boy, Marly joins a handsome Texas Ranger in the hunt for a con man and they must bring the fugitive to justice before giving up the masquerade and giving in to their passion.
When Marly Landers is fooled by con man Charlie Meese, she's determined to bring him to justice--even if it means dressing up as a boy and setting off across the plains to find him.
Texas Ranger Jase Strachan is also after Meese, for crimes committed in Texas. He joins forces with the young boy in a journey that takes them to Fortuna, where a murder interrupts their mission. Jase is duty bound to find the killer, no matter the cost.
Marly carries out her own investigation and comes to the aid of Amabelle Egan, the sister of one of the suspects. But appearances are deceiving, and Marly is mistaken for Amabelle's suitor, making her a target for the killer. Not to mention, Charlie Meese is still out there.
Under the Texas stars, Marly and Jase are drawn together by circumstances beyond their control, yet fate plots to tear them apart. Will Marly finally get her man?
When Marly Landers is fooled by con man Charlie Meese, she's determined to bring him to justice--even if it means dressing up as a boy and setting off across the plains to find him.
Texas Ranger Jase Strachan is also after Meese, for crimes committed in Texas. He joins forces with the young boy in a journey that takes them to Fortuna, where a murder interrupts their mission. Jase is duty bound to find the killer, no matter the cost.
Marly carries out her own investigation and comes to the aid of Amabelle Egan, the sister of one of the suspects. But appearances are deceiving, and Marly is mistaken for Amabelle's suitor, making her a target for the killer. Not to mention, Charlie Meese is still out there.
Under the Texas stars, Marly and Jase are drawn together by circumstances beyond their control, yet fate plots to tear them apart. Will Marly finally get her man?
242 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2010
40 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Alison Bruce E.
6 books65 followersAlison Bruce writes history, mystery and suspense. Her books combine clever mysteries, well-researched backgrounds and a touch of romance. Her protagonists are marked by their strength of character, sense of humour and the ability to adapt (sooner or later) to new situations. Four of her novels have been finalists for genre awards.
Copywriter, editor and graphic designer since 1992, Alison has also been a small press publisher and website designer. She was Executive Director of Crime Writers of Canada (2017-2023), and CWC's Awards Administrator (2010-2017). Now she is mostly retired except for writing fiction.
Yes there is another author named Alison Bruce who lives in Cambridge, UK. They are often confused, except by each other.
Copywriter, editor and graphic designer since 1992, Alison has also been a small press publisher and website designer. She was Executive Director of Crime Writers of Canada (2017-2023), and CWC's Awards Administrator (2010-2017). Now she is mostly retired except for writing fiction.
Yes there is another author named Alison Bruce who lives in Cambridge, UK. They are often confused, except by each other.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 29, 2012
Texas..somewhere
The story starts out with us meeting Marly Landers who lives in a small town in Texas. Marly helps out the doctor in town when he is overloaded and needs a "go-too" person when his wife cant help him. There Marly falls for a wounded victim of a hold up(Charlie Meese) by his slick words and hazel eyes. She and the towns people are duped by him ( its not clear in detail here what happened between Charlie and Marly nor to the townsfolk what happened) So Im guessing later I will be filled in.( it was left so long..I cant remember) Now Marly must set out (dressed up as a boy) to track down the trickster to recover money taken.Just the clothes on her back,no food,money yet she does survive doing odd jobs in the towns she passes threw.
Jason (Jase) Strachan a Texas Ranger is also hunting down Charlie for reasons of his own (again the author gives no details) On his way from town to town he keeps running into Marly and finding out she/he is after the same man and decides to "team-up" with her/him to keep tabs on why they are looking for the same man. Marly and Jase are drawn together by cirumstances beyond their control.They get stuck in a town where Jase must act as temp Marshall and solve a murder.
I liked the authors style of writing as it was fast paced, but here is where it went down hill for me. First off I like my western romances to draw me in and make my throat parched with the dust and the heat. I want a little "historical detail" of said time period and towns. I want to hear the crickets rubbing their legs together and really..really "feel" like Im there. And I didnt. I had a really hard time thinking no one saw Marly as a girl,since I have read many books along this line (girl changes into a boy theme) they cut their hair,bind their boobies,talk tough ect..Marly kept her long red hair tied back and wore baggy clothes..oh yes and a floppy hat. We do get to a part where Jase of course guess's then we have.. he knows..she dosent know he knows, but she wants him to know, and he wont let her know because she's too tempting. Humpf..this took a while. Then in the town where they are staying to solve the murder a whole new host of characters now enter the scene that had me lost,and frankly..bored. And from here it just slowed right down, as well as the romance was SO slow building.I was even hoping after Jase let Marly know he knew he was a she..a wild passionate love/sex scene I would then be rewarded with..nope didnt happen. The story/plot was a good one but if the author had thrown in more details on the characters and historical time period and some love/sex scenes I would have given it a 4 star. But hey.. this may work for you if its an undetailed fast "clean" romance your looking for. This reader..needs more "grit" in her western and I didnt get that here.
The story starts out with us meeting Marly Landers who lives in a small town in Texas. Marly helps out the doctor in town when he is overloaded and needs a "go-too" person when his wife cant help him. There Marly falls for a wounded victim of a hold up(Charlie Meese) by his slick words and hazel eyes. She and the towns people are duped by him ( its not clear in detail here what happened between Charlie and Marly nor to the townsfolk what happened) So Im guessing later I will be filled in.( it was left so long..I cant remember) Now Marly must set out (dressed up as a boy) to track down the trickster to recover money taken.Just the clothes on her back,no food,money yet she does survive doing odd jobs in the towns she passes threw.
Jason (Jase) Strachan a Texas Ranger is also hunting down Charlie for reasons of his own (again the author gives no details) On his way from town to town he keeps running into Marly and finding out she/he is after the same man and decides to "team-up" with her/him to keep tabs on why they are looking for the same man. Marly and Jase are drawn together by cirumstances beyond their control.They get stuck in a town where Jase must act as temp Marshall and solve a murder.
I liked the authors style of writing as it was fast paced, but here is where it went down hill for me. First off I like my western romances to draw me in and make my throat parched with the dust and the heat. I want a little "historical detail" of said time period and towns. I want to hear the crickets rubbing their legs together and really..really "feel" like Im there. And I didnt. I had a really hard time thinking no one saw Marly as a girl,since I have read many books along this line (girl changes into a boy theme) they cut their hair,bind their boobies,talk tough ect..Marly kept her long red hair tied back and wore baggy clothes..oh yes and a floppy hat. We do get to a part where Jase of course guess's then we have.. he knows..she dosent know he knows, but she wants him to know, and he wont let her know because she's too tempting. Humpf..this took a while. Then in the town where they are staying to solve the murder a whole new host of characters now enter the scene that had me lost,and frankly..bored. And from here it just slowed right down, as well as the romance was SO slow building.I was even hoping after Jase let Marly know he knew he was a she..a wild passionate love/sex scene I would then be rewarded with..nope didnt happen. The story/plot was a good one but if the author had thrown in more details on the characters and historical time period and some love/sex scenes I would have given it a 4 star. But hey.. this may work for you if its an undetailed fast "clean" romance your looking for. This reader..needs more "grit" in her western and I didnt get that here.
August 17, 2011
My review:
This is a second Western Romance I was reading. I received the book for reviewing directly from the author and I am very glad for the possibility to read and review Under a Texas Star. I was fascinated by the title of the book at first and when I read the book blurb, I was hooked! Under a Texas Star was well written with a solid plot and interesting characters. Alison Bruce’s writing style made it very easy and enjoyable to read!
Regarding the plot:
Meet Jase Strachan, a Texas Ranger who is after a con man Charlie Meeks. Jase has got the order to catch the con man and on his road he meets a young guy Marly Landers who draws Jace’s attention. Jace finds out that the boy is also headed to El Paso and offers to take Marly under his protection.
On their way to El Paso they are forced to stay in Fortuna to solve a murder case. What Marly does not know is that Jace has realized who she really is – a disguised woman seeking for her own revenge. In El Paso it’s getting more and more difficult for Marly to hide from others that she is a woman. Marly starts to get more and more attached to ace and people in Fortuna and due to the disguise she is seen like a suitable “future-husband-to-be” for a young lady from Fortuna. Besides that both Jace and Marly get attracted to each other and they have to be very careful for not showing it, because it would not be proper thing for Texas Ranger to travel together with a young woman.
The settings on the road and in Fortuna were really well described, the details of ranchers’ and rangers’ life were interesting and the writing was very figurative in that sense, that it created living images while reading. I loved the city of Fortuna with its differences and morals. I enjoyed reading what was proper and what was not proper during the time described in the book.
I loved the plot of this book! The only thing what I missed was the grand finale; I would have wanted more passion in the very last chapter of the book. The whole plot built up to it and I loved that Marly was the one to lead and leave, but I wanted more!
Regarding the characters:
Marly was very sweet and innocent in many different ways. Her awe towards Fortuna was nice and well written, first time in her life she we meeting the “naughty” side of the life visiting hotels, saloons etc. She grew a lot as a woman while being on the road with Jace and I loved that. She started up as a vulnerable woman who hasn’t seen lot in her life and became a woman with feel of independence and strength. She was definitely my favorite character in the book.
Jace was adorable! The way he started to take care of Marly from the beginning was simply cute! He was a hardened Texas Ranger who suddenly for the first time in his life was responsible for somebody else’s life. His protectiveness toward Marly was in the same time manly and soft. I liked that the author brought little softness into Jace’s character.
There were many likable characters in the book. Just to name the few, my other favorite characters were Fred, Matt Egan, Pequeno – they all had a role to play. I think the author did a very good job with the supporting characters of the book! They all had color and spice!
Generally:
I would strongly recommend this book for anyone who has interest in romance and in western books, because the descriptions of the life of the people – ranchers, cowboys, the girls in the saloons - were very colorfully written. The plot was solid and characters believable, lively and complex. Everybody had a story of their own!
Well deserved 4 stars!
This is a second Western Romance I was reading. I received the book for reviewing directly from the author and I am very glad for the possibility to read and review Under a Texas Star. I was fascinated by the title of the book at first and when I read the book blurb, I was hooked! Under a Texas Star was well written with a solid plot and interesting characters. Alison Bruce’s writing style made it very easy and enjoyable to read!
Regarding the plot:
Meet Jase Strachan, a Texas Ranger who is after a con man Charlie Meeks. Jase has got the order to catch the con man and on his road he meets a young guy Marly Landers who draws Jace’s attention. Jace finds out that the boy is also headed to El Paso and offers to take Marly under his protection.
On their way to El Paso they are forced to stay in Fortuna to solve a murder case. What Marly does not know is that Jace has realized who she really is – a disguised woman seeking for her own revenge. In El Paso it’s getting more and more difficult for Marly to hide from others that she is a woman. Marly starts to get more and more attached to ace and people in Fortuna and due to the disguise she is seen like a suitable “future-husband-to-be” for a young lady from Fortuna. Besides that both Jace and Marly get attracted to each other and they have to be very careful for not showing it, because it would not be proper thing for Texas Ranger to travel together with a young woman.
The settings on the road and in Fortuna were really well described, the details of ranchers’ and rangers’ life were interesting and the writing was very figurative in that sense, that it created living images while reading. I loved the city of Fortuna with its differences and morals. I enjoyed reading what was proper and what was not proper during the time described in the book.
I loved the plot of this book! The only thing what I missed was the grand finale; I would have wanted more passion in the very last chapter of the book. The whole plot built up to it and I loved that Marly was the one to lead and leave, but I wanted more!
Regarding the characters:
Marly was very sweet and innocent in many different ways. Her awe towards Fortuna was nice and well written, first time in her life she we meeting the “naughty” side of the life visiting hotels, saloons etc. She grew a lot as a woman while being on the road with Jace and I loved that. She started up as a vulnerable woman who hasn’t seen lot in her life and became a woman with feel of independence and strength. She was definitely my favorite character in the book.
Jace was adorable! The way he started to take care of Marly from the beginning was simply cute! He was a hardened Texas Ranger who suddenly for the first time in his life was responsible for somebody else’s life. His protectiveness toward Marly was in the same time manly and soft. I liked that the author brought little softness into Jace’s character.
There were many likable characters in the book. Just to name the few, my other favorite characters were Fred, Matt Egan, Pequeno – they all had a role to play. I think the author did a very good job with the supporting characters of the book! They all had color and spice!
Generally:
I would strongly recommend this book for anyone who has interest in romance and in western books, because the descriptions of the life of the people – ranchers, cowboys, the girls in the saloons - were very colorfully written. The plot was solid and characters believable, lively and complex. Everybody had a story of their own!
Well deserved 4 stars!
May 22, 2013
I received this book in a free promotion advertised in the Facebook group, With Your Coffee. At that time there was a lot of pornography being pushed in that group, and I engaged in some jocular conversation with the author about hesitation to download it in case it turned out to be pornographic, like so many books these days that are plugged as being "romance". Ms Bruce said that she did not consider her work at all pornographic, but would be interested in feedback on this. She suggested that it would be a good idea if Amazon gave "romance" stories a 5 penis rating in addition to the 5 star rating, to enable readers to stay within their preferred porn parameters, and said she looked forward to discovering how many penises I would award to her book.
I was encouraged enough by this light-hearted approach to download the book (people who write real filth generally get all sniffy about Their Art when you ask them if it's porno) and I am delighted to announce that I can happily award this book no penises at all.
Aside from being a clean, decent read, the book was well worth downloading in any case. It's part detective mystery, part love story, part Western, and with the age-old and enduringly popular "girl disguised as a boy" trope. The characters are believable, the writing good, and Bruce's narrative has a lightness of touch that is all too sadly rare in romance novels, which so often seem to take themselves Very Very Seriously. I loved it, and will certainly look for more from this author.
I was encouraged enough by this light-hearted approach to download the book (people who write real filth generally get all sniffy about Their Art when you ask them if it's porno) and I am delighted to announce that I can happily award this book no penises at all.
Aside from being a clean, decent read, the book was well worth downloading in any case. It's part detective mystery, part love story, part Western, and with the age-old and enduringly popular "girl disguised as a boy" trope. The characters are believable, the writing good, and Bruce's narrative has a lightness of touch that is all too sadly rare in romance novels, which so often seem to take themselves Very Very Seriously. I loved it, and will certainly look for more from this author.
June 28, 2011
Published by Imajin Books
Reviewed in e-book format
A good old-fashioned western romance novel. The west is still barely settled, the Civil War not long over, and Marly Landers is on the trail of the man who conned the townspeople out of their money. Marly feels a personal responsibility for this event, so he is heading off to El Paso from the small town of Cherryville, Kansas to collect the money and see that justice is served. Dressed in hand-me-downs of oversize shirt, pants, boots, worn droopy hat, and oilskin duster, he looks like a young teen trying to beat the odds of solitary wandering in the deserts and mountains as he tracks the culprit, Charlie Meese.
In the meantime, Texas Ranger Jason (Jase) Strachan is on the trail of a confidence man who has cheated some high powered people in Austin. He is currently in Dog Flats, about as small and desolate a town as it sounds. As he's finishing a beer, our protagonist Marly arrives, looking for work to pay for a room for the night, a meal, breakfast and a packaged lunch. He offers to do anything from mucking out to waiting tables, even cooking. Jase has seen this boy on his past few stops and is very interested in him because he's discovered they are both trailing the same man. He's seen him work at every stop. Jase knows Marly has been traveling on foot for most of the way from town to town. He is taken with Marly's tenacity and is interested in why they are after the same man. Of course, he's not going to get into that part of it yet. Not sharing his own business in El Paso, he does mention his destination and suggests they travel together. Jase will supply horse and tack, and the boy will work for him.
In Abilene they get Marly a horse and saddle, but he has never been on a horse and definitely not a mulish one. After being thrown and giving his horse a stern talking to, while guffawing cowboys watch the whole procedure from the railings, they are once again on their way with Marly riding the newly but aptly named "Trouble". The next purchase was new clothes and about this time Jase gets the feeling that Marly may be older than he first guessed, maybe about sixteen.
What does a Texas Ranger do when he suddenly discovers that the boy is a girl? Well, once he gets over the shock, he knows there has to be a very important reason why this girl is traveling as a boy, a strong, hard-working and strong-willed boy at that. He must protect Marly's disguise, whatever her reason, and does not let her know he is aware of her gender. With lessons from Jase she soon proves to be well-able to handle all situations she finds herself in, and able to do her share of watch shifts when camping, rifle at the ready.
Alison Bruce does an excellent job on setting the scenes and customs of the old west. History, characterizations, and the long ride of the heroes of the story are convincing for the time. There is lots of action and gun-play as they work together on a case in Fortuna. For the rest of the journey the tension builds between the two as jealousy raises its green-eyed monster more than once, with neither being aware of the feelings of the other. Again the author works this tension beautifully. The arrival in El Paso is almost, but not quite, diminished by the avoidance of communicating these feelings to the point that I wanted to say, Get on with it! A very satisfying read all in all, with an interesting blend of fun and trickery at the end. A mixture of many points of view, the author covers a lot of ground in personalities, geography, and lifestyles. If you're looking for a dish of the old west with a dash of romance and humor minus the raunch dressing, this book is for you.
Reviewed in e-book format
A good old-fashioned western romance novel. The west is still barely settled, the Civil War not long over, and Marly Landers is on the trail of the man who conned the townspeople out of their money. Marly feels a personal responsibility for this event, so he is heading off to El Paso from the small town of Cherryville, Kansas to collect the money and see that justice is served. Dressed in hand-me-downs of oversize shirt, pants, boots, worn droopy hat, and oilskin duster, he looks like a young teen trying to beat the odds of solitary wandering in the deserts and mountains as he tracks the culprit, Charlie Meese.
In the meantime, Texas Ranger Jason (Jase) Strachan is on the trail of a confidence man who has cheated some high powered people in Austin. He is currently in Dog Flats, about as small and desolate a town as it sounds. As he's finishing a beer, our protagonist Marly arrives, looking for work to pay for a room for the night, a meal, breakfast and a packaged lunch. He offers to do anything from mucking out to waiting tables, even cooking. Jase has seen this boy on his past few stops and is very interested in him because he's discovered they are both trailing the same man. He's seen him work at every stop. Jase knows Marly has been traveling on foot for most of the way from town to town. He is taken with Marly's tenacity and is interested in why they are after the same man. Of course, he's not going to get into that part of it yet. Not sharing his own business in El Paso, he does mention his destination and suggests they travel together. Jase will supply horse and tack, and the boy will work for him.
In Abilene they get Marly a horse and saddle, but he has never been on a horse and definitely not a mulish one. After being thrown and giving his horse a stern talking to, while guffawing cowboys watch the whole procedure from the railings, they are once again on their way with Marly riding the newly but aptly named "Trouble". The next purchase was new clothes and about this time Jase gets the feeling that Marly may be older than he first guessed, maybe about sixteen.
What does a Texas Ranger do when he suddenly discovers that the boy is a girl? Well, once he gets over the shock, he knows there has to be a very important reason why this girl is traveling as a boy, a strong, hard-working and strong-willed boy at that. He must protect Marly's disguise, whatever her reason, and does not let her know he is aware of her gender. With lessons from Jase she soon proves to be well-able to handle all situations she finds herself in, and able to do her share of watch shifts when camping, rifle at the ready.
Alison Bruce does an excellent job on setting the scenes and customs of the old west. History, characterizations, and the long ride of the heroes of the story are convincing for the time. There is lots of action and gun-play as they work together on a case in Fortuna. For the rest of the journey the tension builds between the two as jealousy raises its green-eyed monster more than once, with neither being aware of the feelings of the other. Again the author works this tension beautifully. The arrival in El Paso is almost, but not quite, diminished by the avoidance of communicating these feelings to the point that I wanted to say, Get on with it! A very satisfying read all in all, with an interesting blend of fun and trickery at the end. A mixture of many points of view, the author covers a lot of ground in personalities, geography, and lifestyles. If you're looking for a dish of the old west with a dash of romance and humor minus the raunch dressing, this book is for you.
December 10, 2011
UNDER A TEXAS STAR by Alison Bruce is an interesting historical western romance set in post American Civil War. It is an appealing story of love,romance,mystery,intrigue,secrets,
disguise and a lot of fast paced action. It is the story of Marly Landers,a tough,smart girl who dresses as a boy to travel across Texas in search of a con artist who stole money from her town and stole her dignity. Texas Ranger Jase Strachan,a Texas Ranger,tough,smart,who soon discovers Marly’s true indentity and is falling in love with her as she is with him. Together they track down a killer,the con artist,find answers,and love. This is a fast paced story that will hold your attention from beginning to end. I will be looking forward to other stories by this author. What a great western that will appeal to western,romance,historical readers.Received for review from the author. Details can be found at Imajin Books and My Book Addiction Reviews.
disguise and a lot of fast paced action. It is the story of Marly Landers,a tough,smart girl who dresses as a boy to travel across Texas in search of a con artist who stole money from her town and stole her dignity. Texas Ranger Jase Strachan,a Texas Ranger,tough,smart,who soon discovers Marly’s true indentity and is falling in love with her as she is with him. Together they track down a killer,the con artist,find answers,and love. This is a fast paced story that will hold your attention from beginning to end. I will be looking forward to other stories by this author. What a great western that will appeal to western,romance,historical readers.Received for review from the author. Details can be found at Imajin Books and My Book Addiction Reviews.
June 10, 2011
When I first started to read Under A Texas Star by author Alison Bruce, I was reminded of the 1968 old-west novel, True Grit, the basis for the movie starring John Wayne, and the more recent version, Jeff Bridges.
As I continued, the story shifted to a Dodge City-type setting with a terrific character named Jezebel, and I naturally thought of Miss Kitty Russell of Gunsmoke.
Soon enough, though, Under A Texas Star develops its own unique personality with memorable characters in the form of young Marly and Texas Ranger Jase who never lose their appeal.
This novel is filled with accurate settings, genuine voice, and unexpected humor. And if you're more interested in the thriller or detective or romance or mystery genre, there is enough of a romance angle and an indepth murder investigation to satisfy everyone.
As I continued, the story shifted to a Dodge City-type setting with a terrific character named Jezebel, and I naturally thought of Miss Kitty Russell of Gunsmoke.
Soon enough, though, Under A Texas Star develops its own unique personality with memorable characters in the form of young Marly and Texas Ranger Jase who never lose their appeal.
This novel is filled with accurate settings, genuine voice, and unexpected humor. And if you're more interested in the thriller or detective or romance or mystery genre, there is enough of a romance angle and an indepth murder investigation to satisfy everyone.
October 25, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, even though I'm not a big fan of historicals this was a good read. Marley was a young woman on the trail of a con man dressed as a boy. A Texas Ranger caught up to her and they ended up traveling together.
I don't agree with the two star reviewer - this book had good pacing, I thought it was fun, and the reveal was good.
The secondary characters were fleshed out and brought a lot to the story.
A few typos and it was written well enough to feel as if you were a part of the old west.
Highly recommend.
I don't agree with the two star reviewer - this book had good pacing, I thought it was fun, and the reveal was good.
The secondary characters were fleshed out and brought a lot to the story.
A few typos and it was written well enough to feel as if you were a part of the old west.
Highly recommend.
June 17, 2012
The story started out good and I liked the characters, but then the pace started to slow down and it was hard to keep reading for me. The storyline seemed to drop off and pages were filled with not alot of excitement. There were some words missing and misspelled words in the book. There was not much romance between the characters. I did like the idea of Marly acting as a boy. The story did not hold my interest. Just my opinion though.
September 11, 2013
Under a Texas Star was a fun read but it was a little long winded to me. I felt like a good portion of it was just too reptitious and the book could have been far shorter and more enjoyable. The biggest portion of the story just kept mentioning the fact that Marly was a girl pretending to be a boy. I'm like sheesh we learned that from the synopsis?
August 22, 2011
Under a Texas Star
by Alison Bruce
This is one of the best westerns i have ever read.
I loved all of it and i sure didnt want to put it down.I feel alsleep with it..hehe
It's not you uslly Romance story,It's a whole lot more:)
Alison Bruce sure new how to write this one!!
Happy Reading Everyone
by Alison Bruce
This is one of the best westerns i have ever read.
I loved all of it and i sure didnt want to put it down.I feel alsleep with it..hehe
It's not you uslly Romance story,It's a whole lot more:)
Alison Bruce sure new how to write this one!!
Happy Reading Everyone
June 27, 2011
The context of the book is an authentic depiction of the old west. It is a well-plotted mystery and a terrific love story with engaging characters. It was a most enjoyable read. Highly recommended!
August 6, 2011
This was a fun read. It's not your conventional love story. The small twists were interesting and kept me engaged to the end.
May 6, 2012
Fun western with mystery, a great cast of characters, and a pair you just what to smoosh together. The woman plays boy motif is really well done and not hokey, and a gentlemen Ranger that rings true.
April 23, 2012
Two-haiku review:
She's disguised as boy
Meets up with Texas Ranger
Looking for con man
Much more than romance
Mystery, Western, thriller
Satisfying book
She's disguised as boy
Meets up with Texas Ranger
Looking for con man
Much more than romance
Mystery, Western, thriller
Satisfying book
April 30, 2012
A nice, slow building romance, with honorable characters.
August 6, 2018
I loved this book. The story was well developed and well written. I loved Marly as well as Jase. The story kept me on my toes and I had trouble putting it down once I started. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next and to find out "who did it?" I loved the ending as well. Can't wait to read more by this author.
May 22, 2022
Awesome
I loved this book from the very beginning. I would recommend it to everyone who reads. This is awesome book.
I loved this book from the very beginning. I would recommend it to everyone who reads. This is awesome book.
July 8, 2012
Alison Bruce captures the Old West in a delightful, if improbable, mix of romance, cultures and characters with UNDER A TEXAS STAR. Starry, starry nights of the great western skies and the lawmen's badges reflect the star of the title. From the beginning, the reader knows the young Kansas cowboy, Marly Landers, who joins up with Ranger Jason Strachan, is a cross-dressing girl on the hunt for the con-man who ruined her reputation. The ranger is slow to realize her gender as he trains her to the trail, teaches her to shoot and become his deputy. Both are headed to El Paso but are delayed for weeks in Fortuna to investigate the murder of the town marshall.
The plot thickens with a myriad of characters, relationships and somewhat confusing similarity in names. Jealousy, competition, rage and cunning threaten to doom the newest law"men" in town. Marly risks death when she asserts her "boyish" attraction to a girl terrified of a wealthy rancher. The townfolk distrust the new lawkeepers given the exploits of the murdered marshall, a man who attracted the interest of the maiden in question. Culprits range from guns-for-hire to loyal ranch hands, from townies of questionable repute to mysterious unknowns.
As Marly and Jase (Jason) bring order to the town, their reputations build. Gradually, more and more people recognize Marly's use of disguise, some anxiously, others with infatuation or love and still others with fear for her safety; for Jase it is all of these feelings. Sexual tension builds. Threats rise with challenges and face-offs until Marly and Jase are set upon late at night and Marly is injured. The attackers are killed, injured or escape. Shock runs through the community over the jealousy and guilt of the dead rancher. Marly and Jase leave town, to find the elusive con man, old friends and love.
While Ms. Bruce shows a talent for evoking the tone of the western adventure story, she nearly overwhelms with the number of characters. Sub-plots could be more delineated as with Consuela and Fred's stories while others could be minimalized or left out...banker, minister, store keepers, cooks, bartenders,etc. But when all is said and done, the book is easily readable and enjoyable. The writer has strong writing skills and I look forward to reading more of her work.
The plot thickens with a myriad of characters, relationships and somewhat confusing similarity in names. Jealousy, competition, rage and cunning threaten to doom the newest law"men" in town. Marly risks death when she asserts her "boyish" attraction to a girl terrified of a wealthy rancher. The townfolk distrust the new lawkeepers given the exploits of the murdered marshall, a man who attracted the interest of the maiden in question. Culprits range from guns-for-hire to loyal ranch hands, from townies of questionable repute to mysterious unknowns.
As Marly and Jase (Jason) bring order to the town, their reputations build. Gradually, more and more people recognize Marly's use of disguise, some anxiously, others with infatuation or love and still others with fear for her safety; for Jase it is all of these feelings. Sexual tension builds. Threats rise with challenges and face-offs until Marly and Jase are set upon late at night and Marly is injured. The attackers are killed, injured or escape. Shock runs through the community over the jealousy and guilt of the dead rancher. Marly and Jase leave town, to find the elusive con man, old friends and love.
While Ms. Bruce shows a talent for evoking the tone of the western adventure story, she nearly overwhelms with the number of characters. Sub-plots could be more delineated as with Consuela and Fred's stories while others could be minimalized or left out...banker, minister, store keepers, cooks, bartenders,etc. But when all is said and done, the book is easily readable and enjoyable. The writer has strong writing skills and I look forward to reading more of her work.
May 31, 2012
I cannot describe to yall how much I loved this book. Marly Landers sets out on revenge against a man she thought she loved until he betrayed her. She dresses as a boy and heads from Kansas to Texas while crossing paths with a Texas Ranger named Jase Strachan. They set off together, Jase teaching Marly evrything a boy should know. Of course, Jase finds out that Marly is really a girl but he decides to keep pretending he's a boy. The story sets into a mystery/crime solving when they hit the town of Fortuna where the Marshall has been murdered. From there some great characters are introduced and Marly makes a name for herself as Jase's deputy. Things become more interesting when a possible muder suspect starts to have feelings for Marly and finds out she really is a girl. All the while Jase is always worried about Marly, always overprotective and falling in love with her.
This book was so much fun to read and I can't wait to some more of Mrs. Bruce's work!
This book was so much fun to read and I can't wait to some more of Mrs. Bruce's work!
December 5, 2014
Bright, resourceful, hardworking young woman sets off disguised as a youth to reclaim money pilfered by a conman who turned her head & isolated her from her last remaining relative. A ranger decides to be her protector but teachers her survival skills & allows her the freedom of young man.
The adventure is intriguing as to what Marley will do next. Most of the assembled cast don't realise, reacting to her male persona as a mouthy youth, a beau or potential rival. The most unlikely become her advocates. The ranger is stoic & tries not to impede Marley's developing independence or allow her to be compromised.
Amusing, interesting, enough action & fairly clean without being preachy.
The adventure is intriguing as to what Marley will do next. Most of the assembled cast don't realise, reacting to her male persona as a mouthy youth, a beau or potential rival. The most unlikely become her advocates. The ranger is stoic & tries not to impede Marley's developing independence or allow her to be compromised.
Amusing, interesting, enough action & fairly clean without being preachy.
Want to read
April 21, 2012Texas Ranger Jase Strachan is also after Meese, for crimes committed in Texas. He joins forces with the young boy in a journey that takes them to Fortuna, where a murder interrupts their mission. Jase is duty bound to find the killer, no matter the cost.
Marly carries out her own investigation and comes to the aid of Amabelle Egan, the sister of one of the suspects. But appearances are deceiving, and Marly is mistaken for Amabelle’s suitor, making her a target for the killer. Not to mention, Charlie Meese is still out there.
Under the Texas stars, Marly and Jase are drawn together by circumstances beyond their control, yet fate plots to tear them apart. Will Marly finally get her man?
Marly carries out her own investigation and comes to the aid of Amabelle Egan, the sister of one of the suspects. But appearances are deceiving, and Marly is mistaken for Amabelle’s suitor, making her a target for the killer. Not to mention, Charlie Meese is still out there.
Under the Texas stars, Marly and Jase are drawn together by circumstances beyond their control, yet fate plots to tear them apart. Will Marly finally get her man?
June 24, 2012
I don't understand all of the good reviews. It was a s-l-o-w paced book about a girl posing as a boy tracking down a man who wronged her. And along the way she and the Ranger who she's obviously going to fall in love with even though she's super young come across a murder and they painfully slowly solve the crime and UGH!
This was a free kindle book (obviously! I have such terrible luck with the free ones, can you imagine someone paying for this?!?) so instead of my money, I'd like my time back.
This was a free kindle book (obviously! I have such terrible luck with the free ones, can you imagine someone paying for this?!?) so instead of my money, I'd like my time back.
November 5, 2013
I definitely loved this book and I noticed that the historic background, descriptions, etc were basically spot on; which proved true when I read about the author having a history degree, as well as many others. The murder mystery was interesting and trying to learn about all the characters. The characters were highly believable and you felt like you could have been a part of their town. Definitely a great quick read!
March 16, 2012
A love story between two Texas Rangers who met while searching for the same criminal. Because she wanted to protect her identity as she was running away from home she dressed and acted like a boy. He did discover her disguise and that presented some problems. She became a ranger and they had some murders to solve as Rangers.
July 7, 2013
This one was okay for me. I really liked the hero. In fact, I think he's the most fleshed out character in the book. The heroine was a bit of a stretch for me.
I think the thing that kept me from enjoying it more was that I like my romances a little spicier. This one was a little tame for me. That kept it from holding my interest as I read.
I think the thing that kept me from enjoying it more was that I like my romances a little spicier. This one was a little tame for me. That kept it from holding my interest as I read.
February 17, 2015
A funny thing happened on the way to El Paso.
I don't normally read westerns but this one was really great. I my have to read more as long as there're by Alison Bruce. Having been a bit of a "tomboy" in my youth, I could picture myself as Marly. I never was much for dresses either. A great yarn by a great writer. If I had a horse, I'd name him Trouble.
I don't normally read westerns but this one was really great. I my have to read more as long as there're by Alison Bruce. Having been a bit of a "tomboy" in my youth, I could picture myself as Marly. I never was much for dresses either. A great yarn by a great writer. If I had a horse, I'd name him Trouble.
April 30, 2012
Great story, but I love westerns. And, in case any of my friends that care about a book being clean read it, just skip the very last page and a half of the book and you're set. Everything else about the romance was good.
June 26, 2012
Love an occasional western. Good story. Good read.
kindle-i-own-to-read
December 20, 2012Amazon Freebie 12/20/2012
December 19, 2012
I have no shelves for dime store romance books. This book did not convince me to add one. Perhaps I should consider a shelf for 'books started but never finished'.
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