What do you think?
Rate this book
A Ranger for Christmas
A Texas Christmas becomes a season of chilling danger and thrilling desire in this captivating tale of romantic suspense from
New York Times
bestselling author Mary Burton.
The holidays bring painful memories for history professor and renowned linguist Marisa Thompson. Yet here they were again, just days after her return to Austin from her six-month sabbatical in the jungle west of the Yucatán. It was wrenching to tear herself away from the momentous archeological dig she’d begun, but there was no escaping Christmas, no matter how deeply she cloistered herself in her university office. And now, there was something unexpected to contend with . . .
You’re a hard woman to find. Marisa never imagined she’d be tracked down by Lucas Cooper, the six-foot-five, Stetson-wearing Texas Ranger with whom she’d uncharacteristically had a one-night stand in Mexico. It seems the elite lawman needs her expertise to help with an important case. . . . But when she starts receiving odd messages and threats, Marisa will need Lucas as much as he needs her.
Someone is watching Marisa, stalking her. Someone determined to ensure she can’t continue the dig. And when danger strikes all too close, Lucas’s protective instincts come out in full force. He’s tried to keep things professional with Marisa—they both have—but now the stakes include their hearts, and a killer who wants the past to stay buried . . .
The holidays bring painful memories for history professor and renowned linguist Marisa Thompson. Yet here they were again, just days after her return to Austin from her six-month sabbatical in the jungle west of the Yucatán. It was wrenching to tear herself away from the momentous archeological dig she’d begun, but there was no escaping Christmas, no matter how deeply she cloistered herself in her university office. And now, there was something unexpected to contend with . . .
You’re a hard woman to find. Marisa never imagined she’d be tracked down by Lucas Cooper, the six-foot-five, Stetson-wearing Texas Ranger with whom she’d uncharacteristically had a one-night stand in Mexico. It seems the elite lawman needs her expertise to help with an important case. . . . But when she starts receiving odd messages and threats, Marisa will need Lucas as much as he needs her.
Someone is watching Marisa, stalking her. Someone determined to ensure she can’t continue the dig. And when danger strikes all too close, Lucas’s protective instincts come out in full force. He’s tried to keep things professional with Marisa—they both have—but now the stakes include their hearts, and a killer who wants the past to stay buried . . .
128 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
40 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Mary Burton
69 books4,152 followersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 19, 2025
I got this book without even looking at the title because I wanted to try out Mary Burton's writing. If I had look more closely at the title and the blurb, I would know that this would be a romantic suspense and I would have skip it.
The plot and writing was as cheesy as the cover. I could do cheesy from time to time but it was bland and flat. Maybe Mary Burton could give me more of the Christmas vibe and I would be a happier person.
3 stars, I haven't given a 3 star for a very long time. 3 stars is my lowest, as I always feel that the author could at least get some credit for getting a book publish. I have outgrown romantic suspense so readers who love this genre shouldn't have a problem with this novella.
The plot and writing was as cheesy as the cover. I could do cheesy from time to time but it was bland and flat. Maybe Mary Burton could give me more of the Christmas vibe and I would be a happier person.
3 stars, I haven't given a 3 star for a very long time. 3 stars is my lowest, as I always feel that the author could at least get some credit for getting a book publish. I have outgrown romantic suspense so readers who love this genre shouldn't have a problem with this novella.
November 1, 2025
In true Mary Burton fashion, readers are delivered a mystery that is engaging with a bit of suspense but no horrible grisly details or someone/s tortured at length. This time a brilliant archaeologist and a determined Texas Ranger work together to stop a drug cartel. A Christmas theme lightly woven throughout is not ruined by the bad guys and the touch of romance wins in the end. Of course.
December 11, 2025
Not a long story, but a wonderful one.
Awesome holiday story. I wish it had been longer. However the story was told and the climax finished it in holiday fashion. The characters were amazing and I wanted to read more about their life together. The story complete but the characters could continue.
Awesome holiday story. I wish it had been longer. However the story was told and the climax finished it in holiday fashion. The characters were amazing and I wanted to read more about their life together. The story complete but the characters could continue.
November 1, 2025
The mystery had potential and it would have been better as a full length novel.
It would have been better to end the book with leads dating rather than sudden love confession and marriage. It was totally random ending and didnt give chance to leads to grow as characters.
It would have been better to end the book with leads dating rather than sudden love confession and marriage. It was totally random ending and didnt give chance to leads to grow as characters.
November 22, 2025
Christmas Redo
What a quick read! Very interesting and easy to manage. I could start and stop and retain the story.
Characters were limited yet prominent. Cute quiet calm story with a twist of love from start to finish! Great book!
What a quick read! Very interesting and easy to manage. I could start and stop and retain the story.
Characters were limited yet prominent. Cute quiet calm story with a twist of love from start to finish! Great book!
December 19, 2025
Just what so wanted.
Mary Burton has written another story that I know will read again. A perfect blend of mystery, suspense and romance, wrapped up with a happy ending.
Mary Burton has written another story that I know will read again. A perfect blend of mystery, suspense and romance, wrapped up with a happy ending.
December 23, 2025
Didn’t liked it at all, and don’t feel like doing a review about.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews