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Texas Storm
ENTICING FILLY
Looking at the deserted spread he'd been awarded by General Sam Houston, Reiver MacPherson knew he was going to spend his days in backbreaking labor But when he spied a shapely blonde runaway hiding out on his property, he was sure that the breathless lusty nights would make it all worthwhile. A man could forget his troubles wrapped in the beauty's long sleek limbs and covered by her spill of shining golden hair Even if she was feisty and fought against his strength, Reiver had been with enough women to know that after one deep kiss she'd come warm and willing to his side!
HOT-BLOODED STALLION
When Mercedes saw the russet-haired cowboy take over her ranch, she planned to keep out of sight 'til nightfall and plant her knife in the intruder's heart by dawn! But before she knew what was happening, the proud lovely felt a hard lean body behind her and curving sensuous lips tracing a molten path along her neck. She fought him like a she-cat, telling herself over and over he was just a lowdown dirty landgrabber Then as his hands claimed and tamed her silken flesh, she knew his love would forever be as fierce and savage as a TEXAS STORM
Looking at the deserted spread he'd been awarded by General Sam Houston, Reiver MacPherson knew he was going to spend his days in backbreaking labor But when he spied a shapely blonde runaway hiding out on his property, he was sure that the breathless lusty nights would make it all worthwhile. A man could forget his troubles wrapped in the beauty's long sleek limbs and covered by her spill of shining golden hair Even if she was feisty and fought against his strength, Reiver had been with enough women to know that after one deep kiss she'd come warm and willing to his side!
HOT-BLOODED STALLION
When Mercedes saw the russet-haired cowboy take over her ranch, she planned to keep out of sight 'til nightfall and plant her knife in the intruder's heart by dawn! But before she knew what was happening, the proud lovely felt a hard lean body behind her and curving sensuous lips tracing a molten path along her neck. She fought him like a she-cat, telling herself over and over he was just a lowdown dirty landgrabber Then as his hands claimed and tamed her silken flesh, she knew his love would forever be as fierce and savage as a TEXAS STORM
- GenresHistorical Romance
475 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1986
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Deana James
22 books23 followersDeana James was a pen name for Mona Dean Sizer.
As Deana James, she wrote 20 books, all but 1 were historical romances for Zebra.
A proud, lifelong Texas native, she passed away on February 17, 2022.
aka Mona_D_Sizer and Rachel Davis.
As Deana James, she wrote 20 books, all but 1 were historical romances for Zebra.
A proud, lifelong Texas native, she passed away on February 17, 2022.
aka Mona_D_Sizer and Rachel Davis.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 11, 2021
The Plot
It’s the mid-1830’s and Scottish immigrant Reiver MacPherson has been granted lands by the new Texas government. The dilapidated property he acquired belonged to an old Spanish family, but the place is now abandoned. Or at least Reiver thinks it is, because to his surprise, there he finds an emaciated young wisp of a girl, Mercedes-Maria, whose family once owned the lands but has fled to Mexico, leaving her behind. So begins Deana James’ Texas Storm.
Mercedes is a bit of a wild child, and at first, Reiver has no patience for her. She insists the land is hers; he claims it’s is. The two butt heads but eventually agree to work together. Slowly, a romance unfolds as the pair get to know one another—sexual attraction forms. With James’ trademark earthy sensuality describing the passages, their passion results in vivid lovemaking sessions.
Mercedes & Reiver get married more out of convenience than love. However, their love grows as they experience adventure after adventure.
They tame wild horses across the Llano Estacado (The Staked Plains) & amass a substantial sum of money, turning Reiver into a respected patron.
Later on in the book, Mercedes is kidnapped by Comanches and must use her wits to survive, while Reiver rounds up people to save her. She meets and takes in an orphaned “half-breed” Comanche boy who’s an outcast from his tribe. This young boy will show up in a later Deana James book Texas Tempest as the hero, MacPherson. With her smarts and Reiver’s will, Mercedes is eventually rescued.
Life out West will always be filled with hardship, but together, Reiver and Mercedes-Maria can overcome the obstacles that comes their way.
Final Analysis of Texas Storm
If you’re a lover of hardcore westerns, Texas Storm will make a fine addition to your collection. Deana James is to westerns was Roberta Gellis is to medievals. I was absolutely immersed in the history and feel of the times. Reiver didn’t lack brave or heroic qualities as a leading man, but this was Mercedes-Maria’s story. As usual with James, she writes amazing, multi-faceted heroines, each woman different and strong in her own way.
Unfortunately, I lost this book somewhere along the halfway point, and for that reason, the rhythm of the story was disturbed as I read it. So for me, Texas Storm wasn’t an “Oh my gosh, I love this book” read, but a satisfactory western romance about two hard-driven people and dangers the early American frontier people faced.
All in all, though, it’s much better than many other Zebra romances I’ve read over the years.
I'd give this 3 1/2 stars, rounding up to 4 just because I love Deana James' books.
It’s the mid-1830’s and Scottish immigrant Reiver MacPherson has been granted lands by the new Texas government. The dilapidated property he acquired belonged to an old Spanish family, but the place is now abandoned. Or at least Reiver thinks it is, because to his surprise, there he finds an emaciated young wisp of a girl, Mercedes-Maria, whose family once owned the lands but has fled to Mexico, leaving her behind. So begins Deana James’ Texas Storm.
Mercedes is a bit of a wild child, and at first, Reiver has no patience for her. She insists the land is hers; he claims it’s is. The two butt heads but eventually agree to work together. Slowly, a romance unfolds as the pair get to know one another—sexual attraction forms. With James’ trademark earthy sensuality describing the passages, their passion results in vivid lovemaking sessions.
Mercedes & Reiver get married more out of convenience than love. However, their love grows as they experience adventure after adventure.
They tame wild horses across the Llano Estacado (The Staked Plains) & amass a substantial sum of money, turning Reiver into a respected patron.
Later on in the book, Mercedes is kidnapped by Comanches and must use her wits to survive, while Reiver rounds up people to save her. She meets and takes in an orphaned “half-breed” Comanche boy who’s an outcast from his tribe. This young boy will show up in a later Deana James book Texas Tempest as the hero, MacPherson. With her smarts and Reiver’s will, Mercedes is eventually rescued.
Life out West will always be filled with hardship, but together, Reiver and Mercedes-Maria can overcome the obstacles that comes their way.
Final Analysis of Texas Storm
If you’re a lover of hardcore westerns, Texas Storm will make a fine addition to your collection. Deana James is to westerns was Roberta Gellis is to medievals. I was absolutely immersed in the history and feel of the times. Reiver didn’t lack brave or heroic qualities as a leading man, but this was Mercedes-Maria’s story. As usual with James, she writes amazing, multi-faceted heroines, each woman different and strong in her own way.
Unfortunately, I lost this book somewhere along the halfway point, and for that reason, the rhythm of the story was disturbed as I read it. So for me, Texas Storm wasn’t an “Oh my gosh, I love this book” read, but a satisfactory western romance about two hard-driven people and dangers the early American frontier people faced.
All in all, though, it’s much better than many other Zebra romances I’ve read over the years.
I'd give this 3 1/2 stars, rounding up to 4 just because I love Deana James' books.
February 9, 2020
This review is of “Texas Storm”, book #1 in the “Texas” loosely based series by Deana James.
In Texas, circa 1831, a man comes upon a dilapidated hacienda. The estate, known as El Rincon, now belongs, according to white law, to Reiver MacPherson, the hero of the book, who received the land as a reward from Sam Houston for bravery in the fight between the U.S. and Mexico over Texas. Reiver soon discovers that he’s not alone in the house; also there is Mercedes-Maria Anonia Feliciana Carvajal y Rey, hereafter known as Mercedes, the heroine of the book. Mercedes’ family owned the estate, but now all her male relatives are dead, leaving the land open for claim.
At first, Reiver and Mercedes argue over ownership, but soon begin working together to acquire horses for the ranch. They soon realize they have an enemy, the Catholic Church, which wants the land and will resort to any means necessary to get it, including threats of violence.
Mercedes and Reiver soon marry, and for a while, they are happy, including Mercedes discovering she is pregnant. Which of course means things will happen to threaten that happiness. These threats include: a former vaquero/thief returning to try to get back to the hacienda, and an attack on the ranch by Comanche Indians, who kidnap Mercedes. While in the Comanche camp, Mercedes is emotionally and physically abused. She makes a friend, however, in an outcast Comanche boy, Ten Bears.
Later, while the tribe is on a buffalo hunt, Mercedes tries to escape, Masitawtawp, the Indian who kidnapped her, tries to kill her; he in turn is killed by Reiver, who just happens to come by at that time. In the end, Mercedes gives birth to a daughter, adopts Ten Bears, and she and Reiver have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: For the first time in her books, Ms. James attempts to deliver an emotionally rich book with her characters feeling human emotions and trying to reach her readers. And for the most part, she succeeds.
Downside: Having said that, Ms. James still falls short of making me care about her characters. One test I have for this: When I put a book down, do I think about the characters? If I don’t, then the author failed in making me care. Ms. James failed the test again in “Texas Storm”. I also didn’t like the fact that every time Mercedes got into trouble, she had to rely on Reiver to save her; that’s one of my major pet peeves with any author.
Sex: Ms. James tries to create heat with her love scenes, and she creates a little spark, but nothing to ignite a blaze. The love scenes are mildly graphic.
Violence: Scenes of gunplay and assault and battery. None of the violence is graphic.
Bottom Line: “Texas Storm” is FAR better than Ms. James’ “Love” series, but it still isn’t a good book.
In Texas, circa 1831, a man comes upon a dilapidated hacienda. The estate, known as El Rincon, now belongs, according to white law, to Reiver MacPherson, the hero of the book, who received the land as a reward from Sam Houston for bravery in the fight between the U.S. and Mexico over Texas. Reiver soon discovers that he’s not alone in the house; also there is Mercedes-Maria Anonia Feliciana Carvajal y Rey, hereafter known as Mercedes, the heroine of the book. Mercedes’ family owned the estate, but now all her male relatives are dead, leaving the land open for claim.
At first, Reiver and Mercedes argue over ownership, but soon begin working together to acquire horses for the ranch. They soon realize they have an enemy, the Catholic Church, which wants the land and will resort to any means necessary to get it, including threats of violence.
Mercedes and Reiver soon marry, and for a while, they are happy, including Mercedes discovering she is pregnant. Which of course means things will happen to threaten that happiness. These threats include: a former vaquero/thief returning to try to get back to the hacienda, and an attack on the ranch by Comanche Indians, who kidnap Mercedes. While in the Comanche camp, Mercedes is emotionally and physically abused. She makes a friend, however, in an outcast Comanche boy, Ten Bears.
Later, while the tribe is on a buffalo hunt, Mercedes tries to escape, Masitawtawp, the Indian who kidnapped her, tries to kill her; he in turn is killed by Reiver, who just happens to come by at that time. In the end, Mercedes gives birth to a daughter, adopts Ten Bears, and she and Reiver have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: For the first time in her books, Ms. James attempts to deliver an emotionally rich book with her characters feeling human emotions and trying to reach her readers. And for the most part, she succeeds.
Downside: Having said that, Ms. James still falls short of making me care about her characters. One test I have for this: When I put a book down, do I think about the characters? If I don’t, then the author failed in making me care. Ms. James failed the test again in “Texas Storm”. I also didn’t like the fact that every time Mercedes got into trouble, she had to rely on Reiver to save her; that’s one of my major pet peeves with any author.
Sex: Ms. James tries to create heat with her love scenes, and she creates a little spark, but nothing to ignite a blaze. The love scenes are mildly graphic.
Violence: Scenes of gunplay and assault and battery. None of the violence is graphic.
Bottom Line: “Texas Storm” is FAR better than Ms. James’ “Love” series, but it still isn’t a good book.
February 12, 2024
I liked the overall storyline and really enjoyed how I could see parallels in today’s romances. However, the racism and sexism was hard to get through.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews