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Don't Mess with Texas Cowboys #1

Texas Cowboy's Protection

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“Barb Han delivers nail-biting drama and rich characters you fall in love with. Relatable characters coupled with intense action…winning combination!” Elle James, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Brotherhood Protector Series.

Isaac Quinn missed his chance with Gina Anderson when he broke up with her after high school years ago and joined the military. Now, he’s back home for a big family announcement. Staying in Gunner isn’t in his plans until single mother, Gina, crosses his path. Learning she’s just escaped from an attempted kidnapping, he’ll stop at nothing to save her and put the creep behind bars…no matter how long it takes.

Danger lurks around every corner. Hearts are on the line. Join USA TODAY Bestselling Author Barb Han as she brings the ranching community of Gunner, Texas to life in this brand new romantic suspense series that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2019

1734 people are currently reading
479 people want to read

About the author

Barb Han

365 books211 followers
BARB HAN is a USA TODAY, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Bestselling Author. Reviewers have called her books "heartfelt" and "exciting."

She lives in Texas—her true north—with her adventurous family, and a spunky rescue who is often referred to as a hot mess. She is the proud owner of too many books (if there is such a thing). When not writing, she can be found exploring Manhattan, on a mountain either hiking or skiing depending on the season, or swimming in her own backyard.

Sign up to receive Barb's news and release announcements at www.BarbHan.com.

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5 stars
803 (49%)
4 stars
504 (31%)
3 stars
224 (13%)
2 stars
60 (3%)
1 star
20 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
Profile Image for Angela Charles.
662 reviews29 followers
July 30, 2019
A lot going on.

This is the first time in that I read anything from Barb Han. I was browsing around Amazon which was free and I decided why not. There was a lot going on with industry in this was just moving just a bit too fast for me. Gina is a widower who has a baby girl that she is taking care of. Isaac has been been in the military for most his adult life. He has gotten to the point where he feels he needs to make a change. Gina and Isaac were high-school sweetheart. They break up because Isaac felt that could not provide for Gina as he wanted to. Fast forward 15 years later and both are back in their hometown.

Gina stumbles across a dead body and ends up getting kidnapped. She is rescued by Isaac and that sets into motion the rekindling of a long dead romance. I did not mind both characters. Each of them has been hurt in the past and have reservations about trying to be together again. The main story was not bad. We were playing dectevtive along side the characters.

The writing was a bit choppy at times. The were times where one thing was said but in the next couple of pages it was contradicted. It was a little agrravating and I had to go back and make sure i was not mistaken. Other than those moments it was an okay story.
1 review
May 24, 2019
Story was good

I would have given it a 5 except I dislike books that leave you hanging about the story, like not knowing what the Dad was going to tell them. There are numerous authors who write great books and the same people in them, but each book is stand alone which makes them so much more enjoyable to read. I still buy the next book ,but I don't feel I'm being force to because the book left you hanging. As much as I enjoyed this story I wont be be buying the rest of the series,because, I feel I am being forced to if I want to know the whole story. I think the author should have said it was not a stand alone. Many authors do this.
7,766 reviews50 followers
May 22, 2019
Good plot for the story, without the sex and cuss would of been better.
1,078 reviews
January 6, 2021
Too much too fast in too short a book. Author didnt develop the story enough. Characters went from meeting to saying I love you to getting married — very quickly.
Profile Image for Katie Mettner.
Author 108 books1,668 followers
September 8, 2021
This was a super fun second chance high school romance. When Gina returned to her hometown to help with the family restaurant, the last thing she expected to find was an injured dog and then to get kidnapped. The last person she expected to have rescue her was Isaac Quinn, the boy she loved in high school who snubbed her.

Isaac did not expect to have to save Gina from a kidnapping attempting the moment he drove back into his hometown of Gunnar Texas. He was summoned by his father and wanted to put off the inevitable, so he decided to stay and protect Gina and her baby girl, Everly. Gina was the one who got away, but Isaac soon learned that Des, his friend, and Everly's father, stole Gina out from under him in high school, only to treat her poorly in their marriage. Isaac didn't want to speak poorly of the dead, but he knew Gina deserved better.

The investigation to find Brittany's killer and Gina's kidnapper was twisted and filled with secrets of a small town. The mystery was wrapped up nicely, and you got a chance to meet some of Isaac's brothers but you do not get to find out why T.J. called all 7 boys to the ranch. I was kind of bummed by that, but it will keep you reading the series to find out. I suspect I know, but I can't be sure until I keep reading! If you love an intrigue style romance then you'll love Texas Cowboy's Protection.
Profile Image for Chasity.
73 reviews4 followers
April 6, 2019
I love Isaac so much and he is so swoon worthy!! From the moment I started reading this book I couldn’t put it down!! Gina and Isaac were so perfect for one another!! The characters and the passion in the story was amazing!! I highly recommend this book!!
Profile Image for Heidi Rothert.
495 reviews2 followers
August 9, 2019
Started out okay, I felt there was a bit too much of the repetitive decriptions and ut seemed to go slowish and then really fast.
Profile Image for Birty.
624 reviews6 followers
October 6, 2020
A Little Mystery Romance

Gina returns to her hometown after the death of her husband with her baby daughter. Isaac returns home after 14 years in the military, summoned home by a mysterious message from his estranged Dad. When he saves Gina from a possible kidnapping, their high school romance is immediately rekindled. Throw in a murder and the kidnapper still after Gina and Dad’s mysterious behavior and you have the jest of this story.

What I did not like was the was the cliffhangers in the story. Where is Isaac’s twin? What does Dad want? Why the need for the family to gather? I know this is the first book in the series but no mentioned was made in blurb that there would be unanswered questions found in future books.
Profile Image for Brigitte .
1,611 reviews23 followers
November 5, 2021
The concept is good. I like the family theme and the second chance romance.

Isaac returns to his hometown after being away in the army for fourteen years. Little does he know that he is a just about to rescue Gina, his old school flame from a kidnapping.

Gina is settling back in her hometown after being away for so long. A tragedy has left her as a single mother caring for her daughter.

Isaac is only too ready to protect her from any danger. In the process, they slowly rekindle their romance whilst trying to uncover her abductor. There are some surprises in store. The end is rushed, leaving some unanswered questions.
1,955 reviews9 followers
September 9, 2019
Is this their second chance?

Just when Gina starts to get settled she almost loses her life but a man from her past saves her. She has always loved Isaac but he hurt her deeply so she married someone else. The only good thing to come out of that marriage was a beautiful daughter. Isaac can't believe that Gina is willing to have him around and he will do whatever he can to keep them safe. Will the Police find the killer before he silences Gina for good? Will Isaac stay this time? A good read.
Profile Image for Gray.
202 reviews
July 17, 2022
Almost...this book is an "almost" because the story was almost good, the characters where almost good and the end...yes, was almost good.

Not strong character development. No story development. Even the murder was almost nonexistant.

Gina and Isaac were like a cartoon characters and the rest isn't good also. I really don't want to continue with this but, I'm not inclined to read anything else about this author.
Profile Image for bex.
2,435 reviews24 followers
May 23, 2019
Barely a 3

I knew this was a shorter book, but the story felt rushed, except for the beginning. I think it set up for a more complicated book but author pushed it simple. The suspense side was rather obvious, or at least parts were.
476 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2019
TMI.

I wish there was info about the book that let you know how explicit it is or a rating system. The plot was good but had to skip several pages. Will not read others by this author.
Profile Image for Carol Ragsdale.
1 review
July 6, 2021
Not too bad, could have been better. A little slow

Very slow, the mystery wasn't that much of a mystery. Very slow moving.
No real suspense to story. The characters are too single dementional.
Profile Image for joyce  Cota.
17 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2019
Didn't care for this authors writing. I won't be reading any more of her books.
Profile Image for Evelyn.
1,246 reviews14 followers
August 13, 2019
Second chance romance with a murder thrown in. I liked the brothers in the story.
18 reviews
August 26, 2019
Disappointed

The story grabbed you every step of the way! But you left this reader hanging by not letting us know TJ's news.
87 reviews1 follower
September 29, 2020
A bit disjointed and hard to follow compared to my favorite authors like Cynthia Eden and Suzanne Wright. I wouldn’t order another by this author.
26 reviews1 follower
June 29, 2023
Texas cowboy family

I loved the story about people being reunited
but it got a little wordy and drawn out in the middle
But had a happy ending.
Profile Image for Pam.
4,625 reviews68 followers
May 10, 2020
Texas Cowboy’s Protection: Don’t Mess With Texas Cowboys Book 1 is by Barb Han. This is a very good book and it looks like the series will be good too. It is full of action but has just enough romance to keep it interesting.
Regina (Gina) was on her morning run in Gunner, Texas. She and her daughter had just moved back and were living in a cabin on the lake. It was owned by her parents and she had spent many wonderful days at the cabin every summer. The memories it brought back were good ones. However, she was hating her run this morning because she was thinking too much. She was angry too that she was in this position of having to make a life for her daughter by herself. It wasn’t what it was supposed to be. She finally hit her running stride and began to calm down when she ran into a horrific smell. There was definitely a dead animal near here. She then heard a sound of an animal in distress and she stopped to see what she would find. It was a black lab and he had been shot. She called her Mother to let her know and knew her Mother would call the police and then she called her babysitter to let her know she would be late. As she heard a noise behind her and started to turn, she was knocked unconscious. When she woke she was in the back of a SUV and had handcuffs on her wrists and ankles. Remembering survivor techniques she had learned, she got out of the wrist cuffs but not the ankles. Then, when the SUV stopped at a stop sign, she opened the back and slid out just as he took off. She hit the pavement hard and tried to move but was hampered by her ankles. He hit reverse on the SUV and headed for her. A truck turned onto the road and got between her and the SUV. The SUV took off. The man in the truck got out to help her and she recognized him as her high school sweetheart who had dumped her; but she was very happy to see Isaac Quinn.
What had she gotten herself into? Where did that stench come from since the dog was alive? Why had she been abducted for finding a dog? Why would Isaac Quinn want to help her find out what was going on?
Profile Image for Kari Dalrymple.
38 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2019
My hero's have always been cowboys and military men! This has the best of both worlds! ;)
I don't know how Barb does It, but she has once again outdone herself! Gina Anderson needs something to drown out the pain of losing her husband and being a single mom only adds to the mess that has now become her life, she's moved back to her hometown to help her mom run the family restaurant. Boxes still packed besides the necessities she's out for a morning run trying to get her mind straight when hell strikes... she finds a dog that has been shot next thing she knows she's been knocked out and kidnapped! Head throbbing when she comes too she realizes she's in a vehicle with her mouth taped shut, cuffs on her wrists and ankles, mind wandering to her daughter Everly she knows she must do everything in her power to escape and get back to her daughter. Luck would have it cheap cuffs on wrists come of easily, and when the van comes to a stop she grabs for the emergency hatch as the attacker sees her and she sees his dark brown eyes he slams on the gas in an intersection, sending Gina rolling out and hitting the pavement in excruciating pain. This is where a blast from the past comes to her rescue a tall drink of water known as Isaac Quinn who was a cowboy and an old fling/ friend who had just returned from the service after 15years. Isaac stays with Gina through a crazy few days not only to protect her but because he doesn't want to go home where he had been summoned by his father. This story is full of twists and turns and plenty of spice! It is a must read! If you are a Barb Han fan like me trust me you will love this one! Can't wait to read the next edition.
Profile Image for Judy.
3,295 reviews
October 2, 2020
Texas Cowboy's Protection by Barb Han
Don’t Mess with Texas Cowboys Series Book One
Isaac Quinn is heading to the one place he doesn’t want to be...home. After fifteen years in the military, he’s at loose ends. But he’s been summoned to Quinnland. But his life changes quickly before he ever faces his father...the reason going home is so hard.

Regina “Gina” Anderson never expected to be a widow, a single mother, starting over back in her hometown of Gunner, Texas. Yet, here she is. And life suddenly changes when she discovers something that somebody didn’t want her to find.

Coming home is hard for both Isaac and Gina. They both find facing the past isn’t all negative. And maybe, just maybe, their future could be brighter than either of them ever thought. Seven brothers, five cousins, a cranky father has me looking forward to the rest of this series. Not sure if the cousins are in it, but this first book introduces the reader to Isaac’s cousin Griff, the sheriff of Gunner.
**Sexual content
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com...
Profile Image for Judi Easley.
1,496 reviews48 followers
July 9, 2021
I read the whole series. I got the first one free from Book Bub, but I bought the other 6 at 4.99 a piece. I really enjoyed the series about this family of 7 sons and their father on a ranch in Texas. The father had built up the ranch until it was the biggest, richest operation in Texas, millionaire status. The mother had died when the last son was born, the father had shut down and become hard. He hired a woman to cook and raise the boys. The boys grew up and stayed close to each other and their 5 male cousins, none of them were close their father. A few of them stayed on the ranch and worked it. A few of them left and made their own way. These books are the stories of the women they met, fell in love with and how each came home and reconciled their life. There are some proofreading problems with all of the books, but they are fairly minor. The stories each seem to be a bit chopped at the end and then have a short epilog that segues to the next book. That and the proofreading are why they lost a star. Recommended.
Profile Image for Bookie.
106 reviews
June 12, 2022
A very nice book, but I found that it was initially quite slow, and there was a number of instances where the main characters unnecessarily rationalised their emotions just to fill up plot. I also noted that were some repeated descriptions.
While the author seemed to point out that they had great chemistry, I, for one, was not totally convinced. Perhaps, it is because I think their relationship was not given enough time to truly develop. They moved from dating to marriage a little too fast for me.
Furthermore, the ending seemed a little rushed compared to the midpoints, which were sluggish and mostly uneventful. The mystery about who committed the murder did not take much to figure out, and I was kind of disappointed by how it was wrapped up after all the hype.
I didn’t mind the cliffhanger at the end that much, but I do prefer when books in series can be read as stand-alones. A good second-chance romance in all!
Profile Image for Lisa Richards.
298 reviews105 followers
July 29, 2019
As a lover of second chance romance this book had great promise but it lacked enough meat to make it work. At only 163 pages it was a very quick read, barely an hour, but it took place way too fast and without enough content. I loved the main characters and the suspense, mystery but just kept feeling like I had to go back to see if I had missed something in the story telling. I hadn't. And what happened to Brittany's baby? Never mentioned who was caring for it. All in all, not enough meat to sink your teeth in, only enough to give you a taste. Which may have been the reason it was a free Kindle read. But got to tell you, I'd never spend $9 (Amazon price) for 150 page print book. I expect a bit more entertainment for that price. At 70 reviews strong on Amazon, all of them the free Kindle format, I'm apparently not the only one that feels that way.
895 reviews13 followers
March 27, 2019
Texas Cowboy’s Protection
Barb Han

Gina moves back home and finds herself abducted. Fleeing from the kidnapper she is saved by Isaac, her former sweetheart. Keeping her and her little girl safe becomes his top priority.
From beginning to end Barb Han draws you into this suspense with twists and turns that keep you reading to find out what is going to happen next.
Love the connection between the Quinn brothers and cousins who come together to support and protect each other and their significant others.
Welcome to Gunner, Texas where you are pulled into the dynamics of the Quinn family.
A great start to a new series.
11 reviews
July 4, 2019
Another wonderful Barb Han book!!

Barb Han has kept my attention for all of her stories. I lose more sleep that way. Each one of her books turns into another "all nighter" for me. I never did figure out who the bad guy murderer was in this story till the very end. As a 78 year-old unemployed lady, I enjoy using my imagination to put Eric Fleming the actor from Rawhide tv series in Barb's books as the hero and myself as the girl he rescues. Imagination is a wonderful thing and Barb's books are great places to use it.
Profile Image for Janet Simmons.
734 reviews2 followers
October 24, 2020
Story of Isaac and Gina. I would have given the book 5 stars but it never tells you Why TJ ( the father) summoned all the kids Isaac being one of them back to the ranch. I loved reading this book and I probably would have gone on in the series but I refuse to be forced to buy more books by the author.
It's an easy read and a maybe HEA but not a standalone because the end of the book leaves you hanging. So now I'm wondering if she does that in the whole series.
Loved the book but didnt buy the next one
Profile Image for KarenE Frost.
63 reviews
August 10, 2019
Really enjoyed meeting this new family!

This story was a pick up and not put down until it was done. The story line was one that I hadn’t heard before and it was so interesting. The hero and heroine knew each other from high school and as life happens they went their separate ways only to “run into each other” and the story starts if you enjoy mystery with a love story this ones for you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews

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