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The Texas Brands #8
Texas Angel
Angel Meets The Badman by Maggie Shayne released on Mar 24, 2000 is available now for purchase.
249 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
433 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,574 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 30, 2015
Sara hasn't had a great life, she saw things no child should see.. When she was four she was playing an innocent game of hide and seek with her mama, but witnessed her mother and fathers murder... She spent the next twenty years in witness protection, to keep their murderer from finding her... All these years she thought her brother had died along with them, but later finds him and realises he thought she had died too and he ran.. now happy with her brother and cousins, they send her for a long needed vacation... While there she meets Jake, another lost soul, he spent twenty years in prison and its made him bitter... He warns her away, saying he's a bad boy, but Sara doesn't believe him and is determined to prove it... But then she witnesses the murder of his cousin, which makes him the prime suspect... Even though he didn't do it, he runs with Sara... His intention is to get her away from a killer and then leave he somewhere so he can get away.. But things don't always go to plan... I loved ever minute of their journey, it's so heart warming!!
January 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. There was romance and lots of action/adventure. I was able to read it in one day. Definitely read the series in order otherwise you will not understand what is going on. In a previous book, we learn that Sara watched her parents get murdered and having the killer see her only to run off to keep from being caught. Sara spent most of her life hiding her identity and living in fear that the killer would come for her. When he did, her long lost brother saved the day. Now as she attempts to get over her constant fears, she takes a vacation on a Louisiana plantation. When she arrives, she meets Jake, whom she thinks is the most attractive man she has even seen, but a devil. Jake thinks Sara is an angel. Jake spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit and believes himself to be unworthy of someone like Sara. Sara see through his façade and believes he is a good person. Sara witnesses a murder but doesn't see the killer well enough to identify him but he sees her. When the local corrupt policeman tries to pin the murder on Jake, Jake and Sara take off. Can they find the real killer before it is too late and will Jake finally realize that Sara is the woman for him?
January 24, 2020
Jake is the best, his only downfall is being so hard on himself. Sara has come a long way so I am elated that she got her happily ever after in this book. I figured out who the “bad guy” was right from the get go which I am totally ok with it let you fall deeper into the story of Jake and Sara. This is a 4.5 start book for me but I like to round up 🤷🏻♀️ I’m so happy that Jake tried to reach out to Sara after he was caught it makes the story better. I would’ve like to know more about the ramifications of the dirty cop and his accomplice. I also would’ve loved for Bubba to come in the hospital room once Sara awoke alone with other Brands but all in all this book was one I could hardly put down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2019
Awesome Read!
Sara really came outta her shell when she met Jake! Things stArted off on shaky ground, but ended up with their happily ever after! What happened in the middle of this story? You have to read it for yourself! A story of murder, suspense, love, and survival. I think everyone who reads this book will enjoy it! I definitely will recommend this book to others!
Sara really came outta her shell when she met Jake! Things stArted off on shaky ground, but ended up with their happily ever after! What happened in the middle of this story? You have to read it for yourself! A story of murder, suspense, love, and survival. I think everyone who reads this book will enjoy it! I definitely will recommend this book to others!
March 21, 2022
Sara and Jake's story was not as compelling as the others. Sara got over her fear too easily, and Jake fought too hard to keep his role as an ex-con in the forefront of his mind. The answer to the mystery was obvious, too, although there was a little twist that I didn't expect. The eighth in the Texas Brand series, it wasn't as much fun as the Oklahoma Brand series is turning out to be.
May 12, 2023
Texas Angel by Maggie Shayne
Loved this story about Sara and Jake. Both had lost about twenty years of their lives as Jake had been put in prison and Sara had witnessed a murder. When Sara met Jake he had chip on his shoulder and she was trying to overcome fear. Who would have thought there was happiness in their future. This series has been excellent.
Loved this story about Sara and Jake. Both had lost about twenty years of their lives as Jake had been put in prison and Sara had witnessed a murder. When Sara met Jake he had chip on his shoulder and she was trying to overcome fear. Who would have thought there was happiness in their future. This series has been excellent.
December 19, 2022
Texas Angel (The Texas Brands Book 8)
Sara and Jake's story was probably the most typical type of storyline of the Brand books I've read so far. No confusing or convoluted backdoor entrance, just mystery, intrigue and romance.
Sara and Jake's story was probably the most typical type of storyline of the Brand books I've read so far. No confusing or convoluted backdoor entrance, just mystery, intrigue and romance.
June 17, 2024
What's Love Got To Do With It
True action packed romance. Great mystery and suspense. I couldn't put it down until I read it through and through. I just had to get to the end to find out who the killer was.
True action packed romance. Great mystery and suspense. I couldn't put it down until I read it through and through. I just had to get to the end to find out who the killer was.
May 11, 2025
Brands and their mates
Another Brand bites the dust. Sara (or is it Sarah) goes on vacation and meets an ex-.com so down on himself that I could slap him. Can Sara set him straight and prove him innocent?
Another Brand bites the dust. Sara (or is it Sarah) goes on vacation and meets an ex-.com so down on himself that I could slap him. Can Sara set him straight and prove him innocent?
July 17, 2025
Awe!
Again, Maggie Shayne wrote a book with twists and turns. Romance. Fun and a spitfire leading the way after she gets over her fear of being hunted by a killer! Way to go, Maggie Shayne, great series, and I can't wait for book 9 in this one!
Again, Maggie Shayne wrote a book with twists and turns. Romance. Fun and a spitfire leading the way after she gets over her fear of being hunted by a killer! Way to go, Maggie Shayne, great series, and I can't wait for book 9 in this one!
June 29, 2020
Read a long time ago. Just up dating my read list.
January 19, 2024
Touching love story
Anyone who likes love stories with a twist of problems and bad charactors will enjoy this book. Absolutely worth reading this series.
Anyone who likes love stories with a twist of problems and bad charactors will enjoy this book. Absolutely worth reading this series.
February 22, 2024
Wow what a story.
Wonderful author. I have yet find a story of hers that is not good. The characters are great also. Wow
Wonderful author. I have yet find a story of hers that is not good. The characters are great also. Wow
September 22, 2024
Adventure in the Bayou
Another entertaining book and another captivating storto, set in the Bayou, Sara Brand' love story. I enjoyed very much this book!
Another entertaining book and another captivating storto, set in the Bayou, Sara Brand' love story. I enjoyed very much this book!
November 20, 2017
Wow!! Sara and Jake! What a story! Kept me up all night, I just couldn't put this one down! Sara has had a rough ride, and so has Jake, but together, they can do anything! I know I said the last book in this series was my favorite, but this one just proves that Ms. Shayne can ---write---!! This series is amazing!
February 10, 2017
so glad those issues were solved
April 27, 2014
Sara Brand witnessed the murder of her family as a child. She saw the face of the murder and lived her entire life looking over her shoulder. The brother she thought dead returned to her and killed the man who ruined their childhood. Now, Sara has nothing to fear, but old habits are hard to break. Taking the suggestion of a family member, Sara takes a deserved vacation to Louisiana where she meets the bad boy.
Jake Nash is a bad boy from his prison record to his dangerous good looks. He is helping his aunt and uncle run the Sugar Run plantation where Sara is vacationing. Jake plays the part of the bad boy well, but Sara sees beyond the façade. When Jake's cousin is murdered, Sara witness the murder and Jake becomes the police's prime suspect.
Did Jake kidnap Sara as her family fears? Or is she on the run with him willingly? Will the real murderer find Sara Brand? Can Jake save his angel? Or will death scar the story's happy ending?
Grab this novel by Maggie Shayne and fall in love with the bad boy alongside this Texas Angel!
Jake Nash is a bad boy from his prison record to his dangerous good looks. He is helping his aunt and uncle run the Sugar Run plantation where Sara is vacationing. Jake plays the part of the bad boy well, but Sara sees beyond the façade. When Jake's cousin is murdered, Sara witness the murder and Jake becomes the police's prime suspect.
Did Jake kidnap Sara as her family fears? Or is she on the run with him willingly? Will the real murderer find Sara Brand? Can Jake save his angel? Or will death scar the story's happy ending?
Grab this novel by Maggie Shayne and fall in love with the bad boy alongside this Texas Angel!
August 8, 2008
Book 8 in the Brand series. I’m not a western romance fan, but since Ms. Shayne is one of my favorite authors, I knew I had to read her Brand series. Overall, they are all quite good! Some are a little bit better than others, in my opinion. If you are a fan of the western romances, you can’t miss this series!
The story of Sara Brand (a cousin of the Texas Brands) and her HEA with Jake Nash, an ex-con. During the school year they live in Quinn, Texas where Sara teachers kindergarten and during weekends, vacations, and summer they live in New Orleans where they help Jake's aunt run Sugar Keep, a country inn that he'll inherit one day.
The story of Sara Brand (a cousin of the Texas Brands) and her HEA with Jake Nash, an ex-con. During the school year they live in Quinn, Texas where Sara teachers kindergarten and during weekends, vacations, and summer they live in New Orleans where they help Jake's aunt run Sugar Keep, a country inn that he'll inherit one day.
May 24, 2012
This was an okay book. I had read another Brand book, so wanted to see more of the family. I liked Jake, he is a delicious hero, but he and Sara are a bit wooden at the start. Their passion does get going though and the action does make for an entertaining and light read.
December 7, 2015
Great book in the series
twists and turns. Good mystery. Turns out Jake is a good guy after all. Sara is a fighter...good for her. This book has the Brands in it, but just in the end.
twists and turns. Good mystery. Turns out Jake is a good guy after all. Sara is a fighter...good for her. This book has the Brands in it, but just in the end.
December 16, 2015
Loved. It
This is another great story in a fantastic series. I only have 2 more to read and I almost hate to rink. I'm hoping the author will decide to write the stories of the children all brown up.
This is another great story in a fantastic series. I only have 2 more to read and I almost hate to rink. I'm hoping the author will decide to write the stories of the children all brown up.
February 23, 2008
Loved it! It started off a little slow but still good. Although, I didn't like the fact it was obvious who the killer was. I wish it could've been a little more thrilling though.
December 11, 2013
Okay book but not my favourite. Loved MS but not great for me. Did have HEA which you alway get with MS.
January 26, 2017
Sara Brand and Jake Nash are my favorite couple in this series loved every moment with them learning about their past and seeing them find a way to fight for their future together. Great book
Read
June 17, 2016Absolutely amazing
Facebook in the series just keeps getting better. I love all of the books I have read by Maggie Shayne
Facebook in the series just keeps getting better. I love all of the books I have read by Maggie Shayne
October 10, 2015
This was one of the best ones in the series. I really liked both protagonists for a change.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews