Trouble in Texas

Deep in the Heart of Texas #4

by Katie Lane

THERE'S A FOX IN THE HENHOUSE

Inheriting the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas can spell trouble for a girl's reputation . . . especially when she's Elizabeth Murphy, Bramble's prim and proper librarian. Yet when she discovers a buck-naked cowboy handcuffed to a four-poster bed, she forgets all about the town gossips. Elizabeth has sworn off men, but the stranger's kisses melt her resolve faster than ice cream on a hot summer day.

Waking up in Miss Hattie's Henhouse isn't how Brant Cates reckoned on getting to the bottom of his great-granddaddy's murder. The plan was to solve the centuries-old crime, then get the heck out of Dodge. But after meeting Elizabeth and discovering that the buttoned-up beauty is a sexy siren in disguise, he just can't pull himself away.

Now Brant needs Elizabeth to finally put his past to rest, but is she willing to risk her future on Bramble's newest bad boy?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Adult, Western Romance, Erotica

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 18, 2012

About the author

Katie Lane is the USA Today bestselling author of the Deep in the Heart of Texas, Hunk for the Holidays, Overnight Billionaires, Tender Heart Texas, Bad Boy Ranch, Kingman Ranch, Holiday Ranch series. Katie lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and when she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, traveling, and cuddling with her high school sweetheart and cairn terrier, Roo.

Reviews

[Aղցela W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler Ahead This was a really good book and the hens were funny. Elizabeth Murphy inherits a house that use to be a house of ill repute when she goes to tell the old women that she will be selling it she finds Brant Cates handcuffed to a bed. Brant is on his way to his brother's wedding when he stops off at Miss Hattie's Henhouse hoping to learn the truth about his great-grandfather's murder. He ends up shot, drugged and handcuffed to a bed, held by three old hens as they liked to be called. The actual owner of the house, Elizabeth, shows up there to warn the women that she's planning to sell their home when she finds Brant. Since he's still high on whatever drug the old hens gave him, he thinks Elizabeth is the legendary Miss Hattie and things get a little hot and heavy in the bedroom. Elizabeth stops things before they go any farther and it's the start of a crazy relationship between Brant and Elizabeth. This book was funny the hens want to restart the henhouse again. Brant and his brother Beau want to turn it into a men's retreat and they start renovations on it while Elizabeth and Brant try to find out what happened great-grandfather. The one problem I had with this book was that Elizabeth is a 30 year old virgin who was librarian and wore big clothes, and I really didn't like that the people of the town made fun of her. The two of them fight a lot until they called a truce and started a friends with benefits relationship. This was a really good book that I liked it was well written like the rest of the books in this series. I am looking forward to reading or listening to the next book.

[Sophia Linton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeeeeeehaw!!!!!!!!!!!!

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lane gave me a delightful tale that had me laughing, crying, giggling and sighing! This was a fast paced story, with wonderful characters that I connected too and had me buying the previous books in the series. Like a lot of the series I love each book can be read as a standalone and centers on a couple.

The tale begins at Miss Hattie’s Henhouse once a place men traveled to from miles around for good brandy, fine Cuban cigars and lovely ladies; the home is crumbling but Brant Cates goes there searching for answers surrounding a family curse and the death of his granddaddy. With a chip and the weight of his family resting squarely on his shoulders he’s seeking to solve a century old crime. Imagine his surprise when he is greeted by a couple of old hens and ends up getting shot. Then finds himself handcuffed to a four-poster bed kissing a woman. Elizabeth Murphy the town librarian and reluctant owner of the Henhouse gets a call from the three old women who reside there and immediately heads out to the farm to see what trouble they have gotten themselves into this time. Imagine her surprise when she discovers a naked man handcuffed to the bed. Brant wakes up and begins kissing Elizabeth thinking he is dreaming but before things can go to far she makes her escape. What have the hens done this time and how will she get them out of this mess? The tale that unfolds was hilarious, romantic and captivating.

Kane provided some of the most unique and colorful characters. Elizabeth is a thirty-seven year old woman who dresses like a school marm, wears her hair in a tight bun and lives alone with her cat. Her mother taught her to avoid men and sadly she lives her life through the pages of the books that line the library walls. I immediately connected with her as we book lovers gotta stick together. The hens exasperate her. She loves them even though she is determined to sell the Henhouse. Brant Cates just oozes smexy, despite the hard-ass walls he has built around himself. This man bears the weight of loss and family. I found him to be noble and sweet. Brant was complex and the more layers the author revealed the more I admired him. (swooned over him!) His brother Beau is go luck after surviving some challenges and I am hoping to get his tale. We meet his other brother who just recently wed, and I am assuming his tale was a previous novel. The Hens themselves were an absolute riot. Their outrageous behavior, willey ways and kind hearts won me over in a heartbeat. The three of them plot to help Elizabeth find happiness and I was rooting for them the entire time. The townsfolk added to the tale and I think I’d have a grand old time if I ever visited just people watching. The romance felt genuine, developed slowly and was at times very hot. I enjoyed watching it unfold.

I thought Trouble in Texas offered up a fresh, fast paced plot. Now granted I do not read a lot of contemporaries and maybe you will tell me it’s been done, but it was new for me and I became completely swept up in the tale. At the top of each chapter the author shares Hen House Rules and each was funny, unique and sometimes truthful. The mystery surrounding Brant’s ancestor was interesting and the reveal shocking. I liked the way the character’s tied into the tale and it came full circle. This was an excellent escape from reality and I enjoyed it immensely.

It should not come as a surprise that I recommend Trouble in Texas and the entire Deep in the Heart of Texas series. Kane spins a wickedly good tale with delightful characters and I am looking forward to reading her books for years to come.

I want to thank Hachette Book Group for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Wminbc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow...I read this one so long ago, but the review is now up that the book is to be released today...check it out!

http://www.nocturnereads.com/2012/12/...

Brant you hottie...You just need some help with the committment end of things...

Liked it...but wanted more exploration from a 37 yr old virgin and her 38yr old cherry popper!

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth in the Deep in the Heart of Texas romance series. The couple focus is on Brant Cates and Elizabeth Murphy in the town of Bramble, Texas.

My Take
Love that sign! "Trespassers will be Prostituted". Makes a nice change from the usual. And be sure to take time out to read the Henhouse rules at the beginning of each chapter...too funny. Right along with "dip into her like a tortilla chip into hot salsa".

Whoo-whee...Lane has definitely caught my attention. I was getting pretty sleepy and thought I'd open this up just to take a peek. Well, I'm wide awake now and anxious to read.

Lane has done a nice twist on the romance with Brant as the unsure, fumbling man and Elizabeth as the realistic one somewhat annoyed with his initial approach. I just loved Elizabeth's reaction when Brant calls up to find out what she's doing this weekend. L.O.L.

I also appreciate how low key she is with the cowboy/business angle. You never forget these are cowboys or that Brant is a ruthless businessman, but Lane doesn't shove either down your throat. The rest of her characters are people you want to know and will never forget. Beau is such a sweetheart and when I learned how ill he is, I just wanted to weep. I do love his plans for Miss Hattie's! That should be fun! The hens are a hoot and a half and Baby has some pretty interesting stories about the Miss Hattie's very few people know about. And those stories are not about sex, but rescue. Lane doesn't put much time into the townspeople. It's more of an acceptance that y'all already know the people. They're not important to the story, but they do provide for a few laughs. I'm already looking forward to book 5 if only to see Elizabeth's transformation from frumpy old maid to Brant's sexpot! Hmmmm, I should probably mention that I meant her visual transformation. Brant's already discovered how sexy the old maid is!

Lane also does a good job on the tease, eventually revealing the circumstances behind Brant's family's deaths, his worries and concerns. The truth behind Minnie as well as the slow reveal on Harriet.

For a bit, I was getting frustrated with all the misdirection as to just when Brant's great-great grandfather died, but the end takes care of that. And it all makes sense.

Lane just keeps surprising me. I have got to go back and start reading this series!! Going Cowboy Crazy, here I come!

Thank Yous from the Reviewer!
Thank you for the "who"…! It just seems so much more respectful of people than "that".

Thank you for knowing how to use "whup"!!

The Story
It begins, in this century anyway, with a stop at Miss Hattie's Henhouse, a shot, drugged brandy, and handcuffs. A revelation that horrifies the prim and proper librarian when she discovers him. She can't avoid the wedding and she can't call the sheriff.

Now every woman in Bramble is aching to get Elizabeth hitched ever since she caught that bouquet.

Elizabeth is determined to sell Miss Hattie's and the last three hens are equally determined to not allow it. And if it takes helping Brant Cates in his determined search to learn what really happened to his ancestor in 1898. Why, they'd just be too pleased to help.

And Brant has been having some pretty disturbing dreams about a woman with amber eyes.

The Characters
Branston William Cates, president of C-Corp, is hunting for answers to the Cates Curse. It's the curse he blames for his wife's and son's deaths. And he intends to destroy Bramble in response to it. Buckley (another reason Brant thinks the Curse haunts him), Billy (he's marrying the widow Dalton), Beauregard (has cancer), and Beckett are his brothers; Brianne is his sister.

Elizabeth Murphy is the librarian in Bramble, Texas. Her cat is Atticus and she owns the house that is Miss Hattie's Henhouse. The hens can't afford the utility bills and Elizabeth is determined to sell the place. She's also the great-great granddaughter of Miss Hattie Ladue, the original madame. Harriet Murphy is her embittered mother.

Moses Tate is the man who claims William Cate was shot at Miss Hattie's.

Minnie is wheelchair-bound and purty particular about strangers. Baby is an ancient petite blonde who graduated from Cornell, magna cum laude, and Sunshine is still living in the heyday of the 1960s. Starlet Brubaker claims she's won every talent show in Mallory County and she thinks she sings like Barbra Streisand.

Of the townspeople...
Kenny Gene is using the library to avoid getting caught by Twyla. Sheriff Hicks is unlikely to be pleased by the hens' latest activities. Sheriff Winslow, married to Myra who's thinking of hooking Lizzie up with her cousin Jethro, ain't lettin' Lizzie get away without the bouquet she caught---oughta make Kenny happy! Mayor Harley Sutter makes his appearance. Darla, her brother Bud, and Rachel Dean are mentioned. Colt Lomax is Shirlene's brother and he's married to Hope; they have a baby daughter, Daffodil. Cindy Lynn wants to hook Lizzie up with her Uncle Wilbur. Slate Calhoun was another one of the bad boys of Bramble until he married Faith, Hope's twin sister, and they had Daisy. Elmer Tate has a bad habit of losing track of which house is his when he comes home drunk; his wife, Wilma, is the town gossip.

The Cover and Title
Well, that is one suggestive cover, mmm-hmmmm. A white cowboy hat tipped forward as Brant looks either asleep or contemplative as he casually leans back against his red pickup, a red plaid flannel shirt completely open to display that incredible six-pack and the thumb of his left hand hooked behind his belt buckle...ever so laid-back as the weight of that hand drags the waist of his blue jeans well below his belly button indicating the way to the promised land.

Oh yeah, there's Trouble in Texas all right. The hens intend to restore the Henhouse to its former glory and Brant Cates intends to shut down Dalton Oil.

[Letitia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: A ... Heat: Warm

You know the saying, ‘it takes a village’? Well, while it might not be raising a child, this book is full of unusual characters that raise it to something downright wonderful. This cast of crazy and kooky characters was awesome. From the strange old man who tells stories to anyone who’ll listen, to the library patron with a penchant for Scooby Doo novels, Miz Lane has created something special with Trouble in Texas.

Elizabeth Murphy, an uptight librarian, is known as the old maid of Bramble, Texas. She is also the reluctant owner of the rundown Miss Hattie’s Henhouse—the most famous whorehouse in the state. Closed off and repressed, Elizabeth spends her days hiding behind shelves of books and frumpy clothes. And even though she is only thirty seven, she is more than happy with her loveless and boring life.

Until she gets a call from one of the old hens—the nickname for the ladies who once worked for the house of ill repute—still living at Miss Hattie’s. Told it’s an emergency, Elizabeth rushes to the house. Where she finds a naked and wounded man chained to Miss Hattie’s bed.

That man happens to be Branston Cates. Obsessed with the Cates Curse and solving his great-granddaddy’s murder, Brant showed up at Miss Hattie’s hoping to find answers. What he finds instead are three little old ladies, one of whom is holding a loaded pistol. After an unfortunate coughing fit, Brant finds himself shot, drugged, and then handcuffed to a bed.

Brantson Cates is a man who has known loss and heartache and loves his family greatly. But he can also be cold and calculating. Ruthless. And after an unexpected encounter with Elizabeth, while he was cuffed and not in his right mind, the librarian finds herself on his bad side. Which, I must say, is not an entirely bad side to be on.

Elizabeth and Brant were such a hoot. I love the way that Elizabeth sweeps into Brant’s life and riles him up. It was so funny and heartwarming watching these two bicker like an old married couple. And, yeah, I also love that it led to some seriously hot and sexy times.

Henhouse Rule #27: An angry cock is better than a passive one.

And we can’t forget the old hens themselves—Minnie, Baby, and Sunshine. The old gals might have creeped me out at first, but then they had made me laughing with their outrageous antics. Who wouldn’t adore three crazy old ladies who spend their days in lingerie and have a penchant for chain-smoking and match-making? They warmed my heart something fierce.

The only trouble with Trouble in Texas? It had to come to an end! I wasn’t ready to let go of this eccentric bunch. Miz Lane has such a colorful, droll way of writing that had me utterly charmed. Every page was full to the brim with cheek and wit. I abso-freaking-lutely adored it!

This may have been my first visit to Bramble, Texas—but, I guarantee, it won’t be my last!

Favorite Quote:

Which didn't explain why Brant remained outside with Elizabeth, even when he started to suffer from heatstroke. Or maybe heatstroke was only the excuse he used for what happened next. With one eye pinned on Elizabeth, he stripped off his shirt, something he rarely did, and proceeded to perform feats of strength. He moved large rocks for no good reason, grunting as if he were leg-pressing a good five hundred pounds. He welded hedge clippers like Edward Scissorhands. And hoed like a lumberjack bent on clearing the Sierras.

It was heatstroke. It had to be. There was no other way to explain a thirty-eight-year-old man flexing and posing for a woman like some goddamned body builder in a competition.

And the worst part about it was she didn't even pay him the slightest bit of attention.

 

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.

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[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: C-

Brant is on his way to his brother’s wedding when he stops off at Miss Hattie’s Henhouse hoping to learn the truth about his great-grandfather’s murder. He ends up shot, drugged and handcuffed to a bed, held by three old women, or hens as they liked to be called. The actual owner of the house, Elizabeth, shows up there to warn the women that she’s planning to sell their home when she finds Brant. Since he’s still high on whatever drug the old hens gave him, he thinks Elizabeth is the legendary Miss Hattie and things get a little hot and heavy in the bedroom. Elizabeth stops things before they go any farther and it’s the start of a crazy relationship between Brant and Elizabeth and of course the crazy women who live at the Henhouse.

The story centers around the hens wanting to rebuild Miss Hattie’s Henhouse to its former glory. Ok, not it’s full former glory, nothing illegal going on there now, but when Brant’s brother Beau shows up, he loves hanging out at the house and thinks turning into a men’s retreat would equal a huge success. Brant gets on board and they start renovations, at the same time, Brant and now Elizabeth are still trying to find clues amongst all the home’s history as to what really happened to Brant’s relative. Along the way, Brant and Elizabeth start to move into a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship. Which wouldn’t be a huge deal, but Elizabeth is a librarian in her late-30s, never married and has never had sex. Brant is hesitant at first, but gives into their attraction. He doesn’t want to get close to Elizabeth, he doesn’t want to get close to anyone, because he’s still dealing with the loss of his wife and son and he’s had to watch Beau fight cancer. He doesn’t want to love anyone else only to lose them, so he keeps himself distant and it’s up to Elizabeth and the hens to change his view on life and love.

I had huge problems with how Elizabeth was portrayed in this book. Yes, she’s a virgin. Yes, she’s a librarian who wears drab suits and is most happy at home, curled up with a good book and her cat. I got so tired of all the old maid comments the town made about her. All the negative references to her age, her looks, being alone and single, it was too much. I really wanted to see Elizabeth snap and let all the people calling her an old maid have it, but she doesn’t. She does slowly start to come into her own and makes some changes in her life. That was nice to see, but I really didn’t like how she was portrayed early on.

There are some fun moments but overall, the story just didn’t do anything for me. The romance was ok, but nothing that I was excited to read more about. The hens and the reopening of their home provided some funny moments, but it was ultimately just a bit too over the top with the crazy characters. I was most drawn to Beau, a man fighting cancer who is refusing to see any more doctors, letting what will be, be and he’s now off living every day to its fullest. Even with his refusal to take care of his health (which had my slightly hypochondriac tendencies screaming) Beau was the most interesting person on page and I was happy to see that his story is next.

For a light, quick read, Trouble in Texas would work. I did enjoy Beau and I liked seeing Elizabeth come into her own as the story progressed. I just ultimately didn’t connect with all the characters or the story and a few funny moments weren’t enough to make this a great read to me.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh Katie Lane. I'm sold. What an absolutely cheeky and charming author. Trouble in Texas was a hoot. I'm just loving this quirky little Texas town and the people that live there. You just never know what's going to come out of their mouths and it's just entertaining as hell--what with old ladies shooting heroes, people getting tied to beds and heroines inheriting houses of ill repute. Yeah. It's...quirky and just so damn good.

The quick of it--- Elizabeth has just inherited a hen house that comes with a couple of the old hens who want to get this, hrm, house of pleasures? up and running again. And Brant. He gets sucked in to the whole shebang when one of those hens shoots him while he's there searching for answers about a long ago murder in his family.

I really enjoyed Elizabeth and Brant. They're a bit older than the typical hero/heroine (37/38) and more than what they might seem on the outside--a prim librarian and a damaged man determined to find out the truth about the past. Elizabeth's straightforward and honest. Says what's she's thinking and doesn't play games and is just sweet and daring. And I completely fell for her. And Brant? Oh I just wanted to shake the gorgeous son of a bitch. He's smart, talented and can't see what's right in front of him worth a damn. And it was so much fun watching him deal with his attraction to Elizabeth.

With one eye pinned on Elizabeth, he stripped off his shirt, something he rarely did, and proceeded to perform feats of strength. He moved large rocks for no good reason, grunting as if he were leg-pressing a good five hundred pounds. He welded hedge clippers like Edward Scissorhands. And hoed like a lumberjack bent on clearing the Sierras.

It was heatstroke. It had to be. There was no other way to explain a thirty-eight-year-old man flexing and posing for a woman like some goddamned body builder in a competition.

And the worst part about it was she didn't even pay him the slightest bit of attention.

I really liked these two together. Not quite as steamy a read as I'd expected seeing the heroine now owns the most notorious henhouse in Texas but what was there was good.

All in all, Trouble in Texas was a fun read. My only complaint about the relationship was I'd have liked a little more digging into their emotional state and the connection between them but still I really liked what was there. It had me smiling and chuckling quite a bit and just feeling for these two. And definitely ready to read more from Lane. She's got a great sense of humor and really knows how to wield it.



Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.

[Dani C. (Polly's Place) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Katie Lane has fast become one of my favorite authors to read. Her Deep in the Heart of Texas series is one of the best cowboy/ small town series out there and her latest book Trouble in Texas is just an enjoyable story to read.

Elizabeth Murphy is the quintessential prim and proper small town librarian. She doesn’t want the town to know of her family’s sordid past – that is is related to women who used to work at the local ‘hen house’. In fact she owns and is looking after the elderly hens that still call it home.

Brant Cates has been seeking revenge for his grandfather’s death. Now that his brothers won’t let him accomplish that he heads into town to watch one of them get married. Before he gets there he makes a stop at Miss Hattie’s, one of the places his deceased grandfather was said to have been. The next thing he knows he is naked and handcuffed to a bed!

I have to say I love how well the plot moves with this old murder mystery and the romance between Brant and Elizabeth. It was nice to see Brant was mostly over his deseeded wife enough that she did not come in-between him and Elizabeth.

I would recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who loves a good cowboy romance.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Murphy is the epitome of a prim and proper librarian in Bramble. Elizabeth has led her life through her books and kept herself unattached along the way. Having recently inherited Miss Hattie’s Henhouse which is notoriously legendary for the fine serviced the women once gave, Elizabeth wants to sell it sooner rather than later.

Brant Cates is looking for anyway to lift the Cates curse. His first order of business is to find out what really happened to his grandfather and hope his luck will change upon revealing the truth. What he finds is a run down henhouse, three quirky ladies and himself handcuffed to a bed. When Elizabeth rescues Brant, he sees more than the stodgy librarian, he sees a seductive siren hidden beneath. Maybe it’s the reputation of the house, but Elizabeth finds herself wanting to experience something she never had, a night of passion with Brant.

Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=7739

[Connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not a good book. It was painful to read. Ridiculous storyline and bad writing.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book turned out to be such a gem! I picked this book up on NetGalley on a whim, because I was in the mood for a cowboy story and the series I had been reading for my cowboy moods wasn’t sparking for me anymore. I saw “house of ill repute” and I was sold. Who doesn’t love a western story with a house of ill repute? LOL I think I just like typing out house of ill repute, it’s fun! I didn’t have many expectations of this book, I have never read this author before and I knew I was picking up a series on the fourth book, which I usually hate to do, but this time I took a gamble that it would stand on its own. And I am glad to announce it does. You can certainly read this book without having read the first three. What I got with this story was a delightfully funny story that was heartwarming and sassy. I found myself laughing more than I have in a while.

Elizabeth is a spinster, at 37 she is single, has never dated and never wanted to. She is completely happy with her life as a small towns resident spinster and librarian and does not want that to change. Elizabeth can feel her life slipping from her fingers when she inherited Miss Hattie's Henhouse, which was a notorious house of ill repute for decades. With the house she inherited three elderly “Hens”, that are determined for Elizabeth as Miss Hatties youngest descendent to find her inner “Hen”. Elizabeth knows her life is really over when she finds a naked drugged man in Miss Hatties bed. The man in the bed pulls her into his embrace and Elizabeth about loses everything she has held onto all these years. She just hopes that the man never figures out what really happened to him. Which she knows is a lost cause. When the man does finally wake she finds out that she is even more attracted to the non-drugged version of him. Sparks fly and tempers flare between Brant and Elizabeth. Elizabeth grows a lot as a character throughout the book. When we meet her she is wound so tight she could probably turn a lump of coal into a diamond. But slowly she starts finding herself. She realizes that sexuality isn’t as bad as her mother would have her believe, she starts opening herself to new experiences and to men, well one man, specifically. By the end of the book she is almost a whole new person, well not completely new but someone open to new experiences, one open to Hens and Ms Hatties and realizes there is more to life then a neat, ordered existence. I liked Elizabeth from the beginning but by the end she captures the readers heart. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this spitfire grow into a woman.

Brant had endured more than his fair share of tragedy. After the deaths of his brother, wife and son and one of his youngest brothers cancer he is convinced that there is a curse following him! He is convinced that unless he can solve the mystery of his great grandfathers death he will be forever doomed. It is when he is looking into his great grandfathers death that he ends up at Miss Hatties, shot, drugged and tied to a bed. It is there that he has one of his most erotic experiences of his life. He is shocked when he wakes and finds out who was in the bed with him that night. He never expected a spinster straight laced spitfire. Despite himself he realizes he wants to experience it again. Even though he is incredibly busy he keeps on finding himself at Miss Hattie’s house and thinking about the elusive Elizabeth. Little by little it seems that Miss Hattie’s and Elizabeth are healing apart of his torn heart, until tragedy strikes once again and now he is even more convinced the curse is in full affect.

Apart from the main characters of Elizabeth and Brant this book is full of side characters and I enjoyed every last one of them. The Hens are hilarious. They are feisty and deviant and know how to live life to its fullest. They provided quite a bit of entertainment. Then there is Brant’s brother Beau who is so damn cute and loveable. He is the easy going, devil may care brother, who you like right from the start. Whereas Brant can be a bit hard, Beau is his foil and is as fun loving as Brant is serious. The town of Bramble and it’s town folk are also quite entertaining. They would tar and feather any that does their town wrong. It kind of reminds me of a more rustic version of the Susan Mallory’s town of Fools Gold. You know the kind of town that kind of takes on a life of its own and has its own little personality. I quite enjoyed, would I ever want to live there, hell no! But I would like to visit it. :)

Entertaining from beginning to end I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy a good western, love to laugh and want a good romance. Now that I have sampled this book I will be looking out for the next books in the series and will probably go back and read the first three books if I can ever find the time. This is my new go to when I am in the mood for some western cowboys!

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finished this one, though I'm not really sure why.

This makes two Texas-set books in a row for me that feature alphole "heroes" and downright Victorian attitudes towards women. Happily, I know several real-life Texans, or I'd start to wonder if Texas was actually like this (and never set foot in the state again). The so-called "hero" of the book is arrogant and presumptuous beyond belief. I'm sorry, but a guy who nearly rapes a woman when he's not in his right mind (he's drugged, and mistakes her for, literally, the girl of his dreams) and then blames HER afterwards for seducing him is not a hero. A guy who assumes a woman is a slut and a liar (and treats her that way) because her *ancestors* owned a working whorehouse is not a hero (the Henhouse hasn't been a working bordello since the 70s at least). A guy who WALKS INTO HER UNLOCKED HOUSE while she's sleeping and then helps himself to her bed and her body is not remotely hero, he's a creepy, stalkery home invader. (And no, I don't care that she eventually consented to his seduction-- that entire scene felt rape-y.) And if both parties have *clearly* stated that this isn't going to be a long-term relationship, a hero ALWAYS uses a condom. Not just the first time, EVERY TIME. (That bit got completely glossed over.)

To top things off, our heroine is built on the "repressed prudish virgin librarian hiding a sexual tigress nature" stereotype (she even wears her hair in a bun). Come ON, now. Librarians are people, too. Being single was very clearly a *choice* for Elizabeth. Her mother had some serious guy issues that she passed on to her child. I get that she wasn't exactly dressing to attract (quite the opposite, deliberately). But did we REALLY need the constant insults about how totally undateable she is? She's smart, she's compassionate, she has all her teeth-- do the townsfolk really need to be trying to fob off their aged bachelor uncles on her? The whole "let's set up the spinster librarian" thing might've been meant as humor, but it fell pretty flat, to me. (Now that I think on it... Elizabeth wasn't really being singled out. Most of the characters in this book are more stereotype than real, especially the "hens"-- the semi-retired senior citizen whores.)

The relationship between the main characters (which, as you can tell, gets off to an EXTREMELY bad start) never rings true for me, right to the end. (And what a bizarre end it is.) There's some attraction there, certainly, but I never feel like the main characters develop an actual romance. His attitude towards her is just weird-- lukewarm on-again, off-again coupled with extreme possessiveness and sexy dreems about... her dead great-grandmother (ew.). It felt like "well, I don't really want her much, but no one else can have her, either." Even the heroine can't really figure out what's going on between them, and hesitantly goes for "friends with benefits." (And y'know, it sort of irritates me that he comes up with a nickname for her after she *specifically* states that she prefers Elizabeth. Sorry, honey, what you want clearly doesn't matter to him.)

The whole bit about setting Elizabeth up to "release her inner hen" is just kind of eye-rolly. (The crack about the high value of her virginity is downright offensive.) Yes, her great-great-grandmother ran a whorehouse-- excuse me, "henhouse." So? I'm no better at de-boning a chicken just because my grandfather was a butcher. Honestly, I think I'd have been more comfortable if they just owned up to their profession; the man-pampering they claimed to be doing feels far more demeaning.

And lastly, the mystery of the Cates' great-grandfather's death. The book opens with it, and it's constantly touched on as the thing that's brought Brant there, the thing he's counting on to settle his demons. I don't get the sense that he's looking for revenge, or to hold the information over anyone. Somehow (it's never explained how), his great-grand's death is tied to the notion of the Cates Curse, and Brant seems to feel that he can lift the curse (or at least, its power over his mind) if he can solve the mystery of the shooting. It's a MacGuffin, I suppose, but it seemed like a pretty important and meaningful MacGuffin. The mystery cooks along quite nicely for most of the book.... but somewhere near the end it's just... dropped, and we're spoon-fed a pat answer with all the rest of the missing facts at the very end. (Signed confession? WHA? Where did THAT come from? Was it with the letters?) I suppose if anything kept me reading, it was that, so it only added to my utter disappointment in this book to have it tidied up so cavalierly.

[Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trouble in Texas by Katie Lane

Elizabeth inherited the infamous “Hen House” – now the residence of three old “Hens” but the librarian in Bramble, Texas had no intentions of keeping the house or having anything to do with the place. That included letting anyone know that she was the owner of the run down old home. Unfortunately the three “off their rockers” crazy ladies had other ideas. Ideas that included the kidnapping, shooting (well they only winged his arm) and drugging of the very sexy man that showed up on their doorstep and they now held captive. What was she to do now? They had all but thrown her into bed with the man and she had all but given him herself as she fell into his arms. Oh and the fact that she wanted to do more than fall into his arms again was going to throw all her plans for living out her life as a quiet old maid out of the window!
Brant didn’t know what possessed him to take the detour out to the ranch but his hopes in finding answers to his great grandfathers’ death were a bigger temptation than continuing on into Bramble to his own brother’s wedding. Especially when he was the most hated man that had never stepped into the town. A town that wanted to tar and feather him then run him out of town on a rail! Never did he expect to be shot, drugged and locked up even if he woke with the most beautiful vision in his arms. The same vision that had been haunting his dreams.
Brantson Cates had only wanted answers and had not planned on destroying Miss Hatties but her image was what haunted him and the feel of her body next to him was beyond anything he had felt before. Too bad she had been dead for years. He had to get to the bottom of “Cates Curse” which brought death and sorrow to their family for years and stemmed from a “rumor” since their great grandfather apparently was killed in the front room of the house decades ago leaving a wife and son… not killed in the storm that was reported. Falling into the magic of the Hen House and in love with Brant was not in Elizabeth’s plans but with the help of three meddling Hens she cannot stop herself from taking her first jump at love. Secrets of the house, their ancestors and the little old ladies threaten not only their lives but the connection they have built. Especially when the entire town still wants to tar and feather one man. The same man who wanted to shut down the one company that would keep the town afloat but now had a stake in not only the Hen House but the woman who came out of her shell (and out of her clothes) thanks to three dangerous ladies. Honesty from not only themselves but he family they do have will help them build a future in Miss Hattie’s bed and in a town that takes its threats seriously even if they have to make accommodations to their method of revenge.
I love this series. It is flirty, frisky and fantastically laugh out loud funny. Brant and Elizabeth are perfect foils for each other as they come together as total opposites but with the magic of three absofrickenlutely craaaaaazy old ladies give in to the magic of the Hen House and the love that they share. I could not stop laughing as they danced their way around their attraction as long as possible while dealing with the naughty octogenarians and cannot wait to find out what mayhem Ms. Lane has in store for the other Cates brothers as they follow their own path to finding love. If you like the romantic comedy of Rachel Gibson, Heidi Betts or Molly Harper you will love this series. Take a chance like I did and become a forever fan of this talented author.

[Tina "IRead2Escape" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trouble in Texas is the latest book in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series by Katie Lane. Often, by the time I’m reading the 4th book in the series it can feel phoned in or repetitive. That is not the case with this book, at all. This series offers the odd occurrence of just getting better and better as it goes on.

Elizabeth Murphy is the prim and proper, small town librarian and the secret owner of the town’s notorious house of ill repute. Raised by a man hating mother she has never really had a need for men in her life. Oh the irony, that her grandmother left her the Hen House in her will. The Hen House has been in disrepair for many years and is well past its prime. Actually, that is true for the house and the 3 women that are still living in the house. Elizabeth is trying all she can to put the house on the market, convince the remaining Hens that a retirement home is what they need and keep her involvement quiet. Oh how she misses the day when that was her biggest problem. Called to the Hen House for an emergency she finds a man handcuffed to one of her beds. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, she chooses to leave the law out of it. If she calls the law everyone will know her secret. All she can do is hope when this guy wakes he’ll want to keep his stop at an ancient whorehouse a secret as much as she does. Instead when he wakes he kisses her senseless and ignites feelings she’s never known.

Brant Cates has gotten himself in quite a mess. His family is cursed and he’s convinced if he can solve his great grandfather’s murder he can lay the curse to rest. Heading to Bramble, Texas, the scene of the crime, he stops at the infamous Hen House to take a quick look around. Coming across 3 crazy, old women is not what he expected. Nor did he expect one of the ladies to take a shot at him and another to drug him. Now, he’s awake, handcuffed to a bed and the woman of his dreams is leaning over him. He experiences a lust that he hasn’t felt since his wife and son were killed in a tornado a few years before. Unable to control himself he grabs this woman of his dreams and kisses her with all that he has. They are soon interrupted by his baby brother who shows up at the house to find him. Wanting nothing more than to get as far away as possible Brant finds his plans are definitely not working out the way he wanted. His brother decides to buy the house and wants to remodel it for a gentleman’s club. Brant decides to hang around for awhile, so his brother doesn’t have to go at it alone or so he tells himself. The sexy, beauty of a librarian haunts him in so many ways. He loves and misses his wife, but Elizabeth is making him feel things that he isn’t sure he deserves.

This book was heartbreaking in several parts. It dealt with a couple tough topics that were hard to read about, but Katie Lane did such a good job at balancing these tough topics with the funny and sexy. Not only do we have the crazy townspeople of Bramble, Texas that we’ve grown to love, but we now add 3 crazy, old women that were once ladies of the night and can’t seem to let go of the good ol’ days. I found myself laughing out loud several times over their antics.

A special thank you to NetGalley.com for the loan of this book in exchange for my honest review.

You can read this review and others at http://tinar1121.blogspot.com.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

KcLu's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.75 Stars

Trouble in Texas is the fourth book in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series, and this series just gets better and better. I mean seriously I want to move to Bramble, Texas!!! This is one of those great series that have you laughing and involved with the love story. And this one takes place in the most famous whorehouse in Texas!!

Brant Cates is the oldest Cates brother, and he is on the shit list of the whole town of Bramble. If you remember from book 3 the Cates brothers wanted to destroy the town of Bramble because of the murder of their great grandfather, but the other 2 had given up and fallen in love with the town. So the town now holds him responsible. When the brothers learned the truth of what had happened to their grandfather in Miss Hattie’s Henhouse, Brant became obsessed with the history of the Henhouse and Miss Hattie herself. So on the way to the wedding he makes a stop at the old Henhouse; he gets way more than he bargained for.

Elizabeth Murphy is the town’s spinster and librarian. She has always been prim and proper, and she swore off men a long time ago. But she is also hiding a big secret from the town. She is the owner of the henhouse, but wants to sale it before anyone even finds out. The old Hens still living in the house get her to come out there and she is shocked to find a sexy man cuffed to Miss Hattie’s bed. She is shocked even more to get the kiss of her life from that sexy stranger.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between everyone and the Hens. There were many moments that had me literally laughing very loudly. Brant and Elisabeth are just so fun together, and they just bring out the best in each other each one helping the other getting over their past issues. She has her hang ups about men and dating, and he has all the grief over losing his wife and son. I can’t wait to see where she takes the rest of this series specially that rascal Beau Cates. I highly recommend this series and book!

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[D.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Inheriting the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas can spell trouble for a girl's reputation . . . especially when she's Elizabeth Murphy, Bramble's prim and proper librarian. Yet when she discovers a buck-naked cowboy handcuffed to a four-poster bed, she forgets all about the town gossips. Elizabeth has sworn off men, but the stranger's kisses melt her resolve faster than ice cream on a hot summer day.

Waking up in Miss Hattie's Henhouse isn't how Brant Cates reckoned on getting to the bottom of his great-granddaddy's murder. The plan was to solve the centuries-old crime, then get the heck out of Dodge. But after meeting Elizabeth and discovering that the buttoned-up beauty is a sexy siren in disguise, he just can't pull himself away.

Now Brant needs Elizabeth to finally put his past to rest, but is she willing to risk her future on Bramble's newest bad boy?

REVIEW: Oh…my…God, this was a fantastic read! I really enjoyed the suspense kept throughout this piece and thoroughly enjoyed the buildup in tension between the hero and heroine.

Ms. Lane does a phenomenal job at building everything up. She doesn’t give too much away and allows it to seep in before she moves on to another piece you are waiting for. The premises is entirely original and completely a welcomed addition to the romance genre.

I definitely think this is a piece that you will want to snatch up as soon as it hits the market. Five out of five stars for a job well done!

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another book I picked up because we had a help desk ticket on it at work (wrong cover image!) and it looked too cheesy to pass up--plus the main character is a librarian! Couldn't pass that up.

And cheesy it was, full of outdated librarian stereotypes (seriously--sensible brown suits and shoes--on a 30-something year old?!), way too many "old maid" references (again, for a 30-something year old in present-day?!), and general goofiness. But it was also pretty good, with an interesting plot and characters and decent writing. Much better than Highland Fire, the last "I picked this up because of a work connection" book I read.

I might even pick up more of the Deep in the Heart of Texas books some day in the future.

[Cindie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book four in this series is now on the shelf with a place of honor. These two characters have warmed my heart and the story of the town of Bramble has added a whole new cast of crazy people to the make this the most endearing of the series.

Who knew a cat house or I should say a "HEN" house could be so complex and and important to so many people.

Did they solve the Cates Curse? Well, you will have to read it to find out. They do solve a whole lot of heartache for a whole lot of people, restore a beautiful old mansion, and set a fire in more ways than one.

Happy Reading ya'll.

[Kori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and fluffy...and now I have a bit of a hankering to become a Madam.

[Nate Brightman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble in Texas the 4th book in Katie Lane’s Deep in the Heart of Texas series is a bit of a departure from the first 3 books. In the first 3 books the main female characters of each book, Hope, her twin sister Faith and their BFF Shirleen if not the main female character were all very prominent characters in each other’s stories. In this book the 3 women are reserved for cameos. So too most of the zany residents of Bramble Texas other than Kenny Gene and old man Tate, the town’s oldest living citizen. So too in the first 3 books was the prominence of the town of Bramble. But for the most part this story takes place several miles outside of town at Hattie’s Henhouse.
This book focuses upon Brambles librarian the 37-year-old virgin spinster Elizabeth Murphy and the infamous Brantson Cates who had led the charge to try and destroy Bramble’s economy by shutting down Dalton Oil. Fortunately Brantson’s brother Billy fell in love with Shirleen Dalton foiling that plan. As much as I enjoyed the Elizabeth character she was honestly too much of a stereotype of an old maid librarian even though she was only 37 years old. She dressed frumpy, lived by herself with a cat and was anal in her slavery to her routine. Enter Brant and all of a sudden a life of celibacy stopped looking so attractive to Lizzie. There’s a strong hint here that the spirits of Elizabeth’s great grandmother Hattie and Brant’s great grandfather William who were lovers conspire to bring their descendants together. Brant too was hard to like early in the book he is so stoic, and angry at the world for his tragic loss that likable isn’t a term that you could use to describe him. So what saves this book early on before things start to heat up with Brant and Beth is the three geriatric hens Minnie, Baby and Sunshine the three elderly inhabitants of Hattie’s Henhouse the most infamous brothel in the history of Texas. I should warn you at this point that this story really romanticizes the whole whore with a heart of gold mythology. While there is some mention of the difficult backgrounds that led the women to live and work at Hattie’s the reality that among the services they offered there was sex and they were prostitutes was really downplayed as much as possible. So if the idea of women happily selling their bodies as well as their time for sex upsets you, you should stay away from this story.
I found this to be a really enjoyable story (although not as humorous as the 1st three) as Elizabeth slowly comes out of her shell and embraces both her sexuality and her heritage, Brant starts to let down some of his walls and there were some twists and turns and surprises along the way.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY

Lane gave me a delightful tale that had me laughing, crying, giggling and sighing! This was a fast paced story, with wonderful characters that I connected too and had me buying the previous books in the series. Like a lot of the series I love each book can be read as a standalone and centers on a couple.

The tale begins at Miss Hattie’s Henhouse once a place men traveled to from miles around for good brandy, fine Cuban cigars and lovely ladies; the home is crumbling but Brant Cates goes there searching for answers surrounding a family curse and the death of his granddaddy. With a chip and the weight of his family resting squarely on his shoulders he’s seeking to solve a century old crime. Imagine his surprise when he is greeted by a couple of old hens and ends up getting shot. Then finds himself handcuffed to a four-poster bed kissing a woman. Elizabeth Murphy the town librarian and reluctant owner of the Henhouse gets a call from the three old women who reside there and immediately heads out to the farm to see what trouble they have gotten themselves into this time. Imagine her surprise when she discovers a naked man handcuffed to the bed. Brant wakes up and begins kissing Elizabeth thinking he is dreaming but before things can go to far she makes her escape. What have the hens done this time and how will she get them out of this mess? The tale that unfolds was hilarious, romantic and captivating.

Kane provided some of the most unique and colorful characters. Elizabeth is a thirty-seven year old woman who dresses like a school marm, wears her hair in a tight bun and lives alone with her cat. Her mother taught her to avoid men and sadly she lives her life through the pages of the books that line the library walls. I immediately connected with her as we book lovers gotta stick together. The hens exasperate her. She loves them even though she is determined to sell the Henhouse. Brant Cates just oozes smexy, despite the hard-ass walls he has built around himself. This man bears the weight of loss and family. I found him to be noble and sweet. Brant was complex and the more layers the author revealed the more I admired him. (swooned over him!) His brother Beau is go luck after surviving some challenges and I am hoping to get his tale. We meet his other brother who just recently wed, and I am assuming his tale was a previous novel. The Hens themselves were an absolute riot. Their outrageous behavior, willey ways and kind hearts won me over in a heartbeat. The three of them plot to help Elizabeth find happiness and I was rooting for them the entire time. The townsfolk added to the tale and I think I’d have a grand old time if I ever visited just people watching. The romance felt genuine, developed slowly and was at times very hot. I enjoyed watching it unfold.

I thought Trouble in Texas offered up a fresh, fast paced plot. Now granted I do not read a lot of contemporaries and maybe you will tell me it’s been done, but it was new for me and I became completely swept up in the tale. At the top of each chapter the author shares Hen House Rules and each was funny, unique and sometimes truthful. The mystery surrounding Brant’s ancestor was interesting and the reveal shocking. I liked the way the character’s tied into the tale and it came full circle. This was an excellent escape from reality and I enjoyed it immensely.

***************

Brant is on his way to his brother’s wedding when he stops off at Miss Hattie’s Henhouse hoping to learn the truth about his great-grandfather’s murder. He ends up shot, drugged and handcuffed to a bed, held by three old women, or hens as they liked to be called. The actual owner of the house, Elizabeth, shows up there to warn the women that she’s planning to sell their home when she finds Brant. Since he’s still high on whatever drug the old hens gave him, he thinks Elizabeth is the legendary Miss Hattie and things get a little hot and heavy in the bedroom. Elizabeth stops things before they go any farther and it’s the start of a crazy relationship between Brant and Elizabeth and of course the crazy women who live at the Henhouse.

The story centers around the hens wanting to rebuild Miss Hattie’s Henhouse to its former glory. Ok, not it’s full former glory, nothing illegal going on there now, but when Brant’s brother Beau shows up, he loves hanging out at the house and thinks turning into a men’s retreat would equal a huge success. Brant gets on board and they start renovations, at the same time, Brant and now Elizabeth are still trying to find clues amongst all the home’s history as to what really happened to Brant’s relative. Along the way, Brant and Elizabeth start to move into a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship. Which wouldn’t be a huge deal, but Elizabeth is a librarian in her late-30s, never married and has never had sex. Brant is hesitant at first, but gives into their attraction. He doesn’t want to get close to Elizabeth, he doesn’t want to get close to anyone, because he’s still dealing with the loss of his wife and son and he’s had to watch Beau fight cancer. He doesn’t want to love anyone else only to lose them, so he keeps himself distant and it’s up to Elizabeth and the hens to change his view on life and love.

I had huge problems with how Elizabeth was portrayed in this book. Yes, she’s a virgin. Yes, she’s a librarian who wears drab suits and is most happy at home, curled up with a good book and her cat. I got so tired of all the old maid comments the town made about her. All the negative references to her age, her looks, being alone and single, it was too much. I really wanted to see Elizabeth snap and let all the people calling her an old maid have it, but she doesn’t. She does slowly start to come into her own and makes some changes in her life. That was nice to see, but I really didn’t like how she was portrayed early on.

There are some fun moments but overall, the story just didn’t do anything for me. The romance was ok, but nothing that I was excited to read more about. The hens and the reopening of their home provided some funny moments, but it was ultimately just a bit too over the top with the crazy characters. I was most drawn to Beau, a man fighting cancer who is refusing to see any more doctors, letting what will be, be and he’s now off living every day to its fullest. Even with his refusal to take care of his health (which had my slightly hypochondriac tendencies screaming) Beau was the most interesting person on page and I was happy to see that his story is next.

For a light, quick read, Trouble in Texas would work. I did enjoy Beau and I liked seeing Elizabeth come into her own as the story progressed. I just ultimately didn’t connect with all the characters or the story and a few funny moments weren’t enough to make this a great read to me

[Jamahat Julaiha · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the way to attend his brother wedding, Brant stop by Miss Hattie's Henhouse to solve his great grandfather murder case. He never expected his arrival was greeted with a shoot and drugged.

It's really unexpected, Elizabeth a proper librarian from previous book is the owner of the Miss Hattie's Henhouse the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas. When she got a call from of the hen that tell her there was a problem at the Henhouse, she never expected to see a man handcuffed in bed. The stranger kiss her.

The resident in the hen house want to take this opportunity to make Elizabeth fall in love and will be a hen. So Elizabeth will not sell the Henhouse. For your information the Henhouse its not like what you think. Read it and you know it.

[Bunga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yang ini agak lucu ceritanya. Elizabeth, seorang penjaga perpustakaan di kota kecil yang terkenal sebagai perawan tua ternyata diam-diam dapat warisan sebuah rumah tua bersejarah yang dulunya terkenal sebagai rumah bordir legendaris. Lalu hero kita di sini, Branton atau Brant, tertarik untuk menyelidiki kematian kakek buyutnya yang digosipkan tewas di rumah bordir tsb, meski di catatan resminya diberitakan terbunuh di kota karena konflik hutang. Karakter di buku ini lumayan rame karena ada 3 hens (wanita penghibur) yang udah jadi oma-oma yg agak nyentrik dan ngotot pengen kembali membuka rumah bordir itu. Lalu juga ada adik-adik Brant, istri dan anak2nya. Saya aja baru tahu kalau ini buku ke-empat. Pantesan kok heboh amat. Hehehe... overall cukup menghibur karena ceritanya cukup kocak.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful, sassy and romantic story of two people who were so different from each other but who needed to be together. What would the town of Bramble, Texas think when they find out that the Hen House is owned by the town’s old maid librarian ? Great, cute story that will make you smile.

[E_bookpushers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/01/16/...

Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

Get ready for the newest novel in the Deep in the Heart of Texas series.
Inheriting the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas can spell trouble for a girl’s reputation . . . especially when she’s Elizabeth Murphy, Bramble’s prim and proper librarian. Yet when she discovers a buck-naked cowboy handcuffed to a four-poster bed, she forgets all about the town gossips. Elizabeth has sworn off men, but the stranger’s kisses melt her resolve faster than ice cream on a hot summer day.
Waking up in Miss Hattie’s Henhouse isn’t how Brant Cates reckoned on getting to the bottom of his great-granddaddy’s murder. The plan was to solve the centuries-old crime, then get the heck out of Dodge. But after meeting Elizabeth and discovering that the buttoned-up beauty is a sexy siren in disguise, he just can’t pull himself away. Now Brant needs Elizabeth to finally put his past to rest, but is she willing to risk her future on Bramble’s newest bad boy?

This blurb came from the author’s website.

I have a not so secret addiction to western romances regardless of their time period. I have also discovered that apparently I have a weakness for proper ladies inheriting houses of ill repute. I was so interested when I read the blurb for Trouble in Texas that I wasn’t too concerned about the fact that this was the 4th book in the series. As I was reading I could tell that I had missed some of the backstory but it didn’t impede my enjoyment of the book. In fact I think I need to go find the first three books and give them a try.

Lane had a very interesting set-up to this book. I did not realize that the first chapter was a prologue initially so when it ended I had some ideas as to how I thought the first chapter would tie into the blurb but I was pleasantly mistaken. My first introduction to the current residents of Miss Hattie’s Henhouse was full of o_O and rapid page turning so I could find out what was going to happen next. Between giggles I really felt for Brant and Elizabeth as they tried to work through their situation and deal with their various family members at the same time.

I probably would have understood more of what drove Brant’s fixation on finding the truth behind the death of his relative if I had read the previous novels but his interactions with Elizabeth and the inhabitants of Miss Hattie’s more than made up for my lack of knowledge. Brant had some significant depth as a character. He was willing to set aside his feelings of revenge towards the henhouse to support his brother’s dreams. The fact that he was able to annoy Elizabeth was an added bonus. Brant also admitted that he had made some errors in judgment previously and was man enough to admit them. I really enjoy it when heroes are confident enough to not just admit they were wrong but to make amends. Granted he did annoy me a few times while I was reading but I could understand why he did what he did.

Elizabeth underwent some significant growth during this book. It was refreshing to see the straight-laced heroine who was that way not because of society’s dictates but because she had been brought up a certain way. It was even more refreshing to see her decide to start thinking for herself, learn the history of the henhouse, and then decide who and what she was going to be. I absolutely loved how Elizabeth’s sense of honor and duty kept her entangled with both Brant and the ladies of the henhouse. She could have stuck to her upbringing but instead despite her frustration she continued working with the ladies and with Brant trying to find a solution that would satisfy everyone.

While I enjoyed watching Brant and Elizabeth, I really loved the supporting cast. They literally were a bunch of eccentric characters regardless of their age. Some of their actions highlighted the ridiculousness of what is considered important at a younger age while others brought home the importance of enjoying life regardless of your age. Lane demolished a lot of the preconceived notions I had about the ladies of Miss Hattie’s and really made me think about how little we really know based on someone’s public self. Along with acting as foils for the h/h, the supporting cast was also essential to moving the plot forward. In fact without the actions of a certain group of ladies this story would have lost a lot of its entertainment.

As I said at the beginning of this review I really enjoyed reading Trouble in Texas. Lane was able to bring together several of the elements I enjoy in one book. The small town feeling with its grudges, history, and eccentric residents was a blast. I spent a lot of my time giggling and wondering what the henhouse ladies were going to do next. I also got a kick out of Brant verbally tying Elizabeth up in knots by using her innate honesty, yet Elizabeth never took the easy way out. Watching the two of them learn to be happy and to deal with their past was also rewarding. Lane has made me very curious about the previous three books and I want to know what happens next in this series.

I give Trouble in Texas a B+

[Diane Haag · Rating 5 out of 5]

another book set in the crazy town of Bramble TX. It was fun seeing where the various characters are at in their lives. I enjoyed watching the changes in one of the main characters Brant and how coming to the town of Bramble made him see his life in a different light.

[Shadee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this title from a library display and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. On to read the next!

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a new author for me. The story is good, but I had trouble getting into it. I am glad that I stayed with the book because I did end up enjoying the story.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was by far my favorite book in the series. I was laughing and mad and even teary eyed at some parts.