What do you think?
Rate this book
The Oklahoma Brands #5
Dangerous Lover
No sooner had Selene Brand cast her love spell than dark, handsome--and freshly stabbed--Cory Forrester fell at her feet. She felt as destined to save this stranger as she was to love him, even if it meant exposing her secret life as a witch. But the injured amnesiac didn't even know his own name, whether Selene was the cause of his injured state--or his salvation. Cory knew only that his attraction to Selene was as unworldly as her unusual pagan rituals... and that with killers now after both of them, they might be dead before nightfall... .
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2006
451 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,571 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 10, 2011
So, Selene Brand has always been into new-age stuff, herbs and all, but what her family doesn't know is that she is a Wiccan, a witch and when she is one day in the woods with other witches, and they are joking around about her soul-mate, an injured man falls near her feet, not wanting to expose her fellow witches she sends them away while calling the authorities and being in a small town like Big Fall, people have plenty to say and question whether she was the one who did the stabbing.
Selene has also not told her mom the truth, she goes to see the injured man in the hospital knowing he is her soul-mate but he has amnesia and doesn't really trust her or the things she says, wanting to get away from her mother Selene decides to go to a friend's cabin, finds the un-named man on the way, who has had another attempt on his life and takes him with her. He finds out his name is Cory and finds Selene weird, he just wants to get laid and not commit to her for her life, the way she is talking.
To be honest the book didn't work for me mainly because it was weird I guess and I didn't enjoy the romance at all, even the dialogues between them felt weird, oh I am injured but let's have sex, no let us wait, but it is okay the next day when his brother is in hospital and Selene's friend dead?Also, she doesn't know him at all but believes they are soul-mates, maybe I am not that open to reading different books, but things just happened way to fast for me, from not wanting to commit, Cory is suddenly all, I love you.
Selene has also not told her mom the truth, she goes to see the injured man in the hospital knowing he is her soul-mate but he has amnesia and doesn't really trust her or the things she says, wanting to get away from her mother Selene decides to go to a friend's cabin, finds the un-named man on the way, who has had another attempt on his life and takes him with her. He finds out his name is Cory and finds Selene weird, he just wants to get laid and not commit to her for her life, the way she is talking.
To be honest the book didn't work for me mainly because it was weird I guess and I didn't enjoy the romance at all, even the dialogues between them felt weird, oh I am injured but let's have sex, no let us wait, but it is okay the next day when his brother is in hospital and Selene's friend dead?Also, she doesn't know him at all but believes they are soul-mates, maybe I am not that open to reading different books, but things just happened way to fast for me, from not wanting to commit, Cory is suddenly all, I love you.
February 16, 2020
I enjoyed this paranormal romantic suspense with plenty of exciting action. I particularly liked the heroine's confidence. It was also nice to see the Brand family working together to help. Overall a good book even with the few inconsistencies and some ruminating. Selene is communing with her sister witches when a man who's been stabbed collapsed at her feet.
March 2, 2017
****4.25 Stars***
Another enjoyable read by Maggie Shayne. A great series that I highly recommend.
Another enjoyable read by Maggie Shayne. A great series that I highly recommend.
July 21, 2020
*** NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS ***
Maggie Shayne has certainly written better than this quick read. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice fast paced novel with lots of excitement. However I found the main character a little hard to relate to. There's being Wiccan or an interest in the occults and then there's just plain flaky and I'd have to say Selene Brand falls into the second category. She decides a man she doesn't even know is her soul mate based on signs she receives after a pagan ritual, falls madly in love with him for no other apparent reason other than those signs and takes wacky to a whole new level. In one scene this character decides to literally listen to the earth, as in lie down on the ground and put her ear to it, and of course while she's listening to dirt "talk" the bad guy catches her and takes her hostage. The character does have some redeeming qualities like a strong sense of conviction to her beliefs and an extreme sense of loyalty, but I was disappointed in the book because you usually find so much better with a Maggie Shayne novel. It's an entertaining read, but I think could have been greatly improved with a little more character development and plot depth. Definitely not one of Maggie Shayne's best.
Maggie Shayne has certainly written better than this quick read. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice fast paced novel with lots of excitement. However I found the main character a little hard to relate to. There's being Wiccan or an interest in the occults and then there's just plain flaky and I'd have to say Selene Brand falls into the second category. She decides a man she doesn't even know is her soul mate based on signs she receives after a pagan ritual, falls madly in love with him for no other apparent reason other than those signs and takes wacky to a whole new level. In one scene this character decides to literally listen to the earth, as in lie down on the ground and put her ear to it, and of course while she's listening to dirt "talk" the bad guy catches her and takes her hostage. The character does have some redeeming qualities like a strong sense of conviction to her beliefs and an extreme sense of loyalty, but I was disappointed in the book because you usually find so much better with a Maggie Shayne novel. It's an entertaining read, but I think could have been greatly improved with a little more character development and plot depth. Definitely not one of Maggie Shayne's best.
February 3, 2025
In the 5th book of this series, we get the youngest daughter, Selene's story. I enjoyed this book and found her alternative way of thinking refreshing and fun. Selene is a Wiccan and has always felt a connection with nature and seems to know things before they happen. She is out in the woods at night with some fellow Wiccans when they joke about signs that Selene has found her true love. As they are completing their ceremony, a handsome man come crashing through the forest and falls at Selene's feet. All of the signs they joked about appear. Selene is convinced that he is her soul mate. He has been stabbed and can't remember anything. Selene sends her friends away and calls for help. She saves his life, but in the process is outed as a witch. Her mother freaks out about it and Selene decides to hide out for a few days. She opts to stay at her friends hunting cabin which is off the grid. Meanwhile, someone tries to kill the stranger again and he escapes only to run into Selene. They end up together at the cabin and Selene tries to help him recover his memories. When they venture into an area with cell service, they learn that Selene's friend who owns the cabin has been murdered and an intruder was in Selene's house. Selene and the stranger decide they have to warn her other friends - one of whom is at a retreat with no cell service. As they spend time together, they can't deny their attraction, but while Selene believes they are fated, the stranger wants nothing to do with a relationship. Will they be able to warn her friend and not get killed themselves? Will the stranger regain his memory and decide Selene is the one for him after all?
August 2, 2020
"One Magic Summer" by Maggie Shayne is book 5 of 6 in her Oklahoma Brand series. This book should be read as part of the series since characters are introduced from Book 1 and are brought into the story as it continues. These are the books in this series:
The Oklahoma All Girl Brand Series:
The Brands Who Came for Christmas
Brand New Heartache
Secrets and Lies
A Mommy For Christmas
One Magic Summer
Sweet Vidalia Brand
This is Selene's story. She is a Wiccan who is also part Shaman and seems to know what is going to happen before it does. This story starts out with Selene, and a group of friends, dancing semi naked by the waterfall as they commune with nature and summon the Goddesses. Unfortunately, their circle is broken when a man comes through the brush towards them with a stab wound. He is running from someone, and he doesn't know who he is. Cory Falconer only remembers looking up and seeing Selene stand over him with a knife in her hand. Their story starts to take place here as the women disperse, since they don't want anyone knowing that they're Wiccan, and the police are called because of the stabbing. There is quite a bit to this story, and we learn along the way as Cory starts to remember parts of his past, and Selene gets visions of what is coming.
The Oklahoma All Girl Brand Series:
The Brands Who Came for Christmas
Brand New Heartache
Secrets and Lies
A Mommy For Christmas
One Magic Summer
Sweet Vidalia Brand
This is Selene's story. She is a Wiccan who is also part Shaman and seems to know what is going to happen before it does. This story starts out with Selene, and a group of friends, dancing semi naked by the waterfall as they commune with nature and summon the Goddesses. Unfortunately, their circle is broken when a man comes through the brush towards them with a stab wound. He is running from someone, and he doesn't know who he is. Cory Falconer only remembers looking up and seeing Selene stand over him with a knife in her hand. Their story starts to take place here as the women disperse, since they don't want anyone knowing that they're Wiccan, and the police are called because of the stabbing. There is quite a bit to this story, and we learn along the way as Cory starts to remember parts of his past, and Selene gets visions of what is coming.
September 11, 2023
A Stink Bug Crawled Up A Skunks Butt And Died
I lost it at three in the morning laughing so hard at the above quote. This is a great love story. The Wiccans are so close and love each other like sisters. Selene is the strongest one of the witches and happens to have her fated mate fall at her feet. Cory is being chased by a bunch of thugs who are killing off Selene's Wiccan friends. That's all I am saying. Read the book as it is s great love story as I said before.
Just wish Maggie's editor had a better proof reader. Lots of typos, duplicate words and punctuation errors. At times it takes away from the story. Goddess bless everyone!😄
I lost it at three in the morning laughing so hard at the above quote. This is a great love story. The Wiccans are so close and love each other like sisters. Selene is the strongest one of the witches and happens to have her fated mate fall at her feet. Cory is being chased by a bunch of thugs who are killing off Selene's Wiccan friends. That's all I am saying. Read the book as it is s great love story as I said before.
Just wish Maggie's editor had a better proof reader. Lots of typos, duplicate words and punctuation errors. At times it takes away from the story. Goddess bless everyone!😄
March 22, 2023
Great book
Each book gets more and more suspenseful! Selene, the youngest of the Brands of Oklahoma has finally met her man! Her soul mate as she calls him! Found him in an interesting way but found him none the less! The twists and turns Maggie Shayne has developed makes for an interesting read! Get them all. Start with the Texas Brand series then on to the Oklahoma series. You'll follow it more easily that way and you'll feel as if you're one of the family watching from the sidelines!
Each book gets more and more suspenseful! Selene, the youngest of the Brands of Oklahoma has finally met her man! Her soul mate as she calls him! Found him in an interesting way but found him none the less! The twists and turns Maggie Shayne has developed makes for an interesting read! Get them all. Start with the Texas Brand series then on to the Oklahoma series. You'll follow it more easily that way and you'll feel as if you're one of the family watching from the sidelines!
March 26, 2022
Somewhat strange with the witch stuff, but very suspenseful. I did find the logic difficult to follow at times. Unnecessary violence and murder that didn't make a whole lot of sense, even at the end. I thought something would crop up to explain it, but no. Selene and Cory make interesting sense. They are alike in many ways and different in others, but they mesh well.
September 24, 2024
I Told You
Really good read. Great romance mystery. Following the Brand tradition. There is always a Lot daydreaming about romance and drama From being to end each adventure keeps you up reading. I tried reading it a little at a time. But it didn't work so I finished it in one night. Really good.
Really good read. Great romance mystery. Following the Brand tradition. There is always a Lot daydreaming about romance and drama From being to end each adventure keeps you up reading. I tried reading it a little at a time. But it didn't work so I finished it in one night. Really good.
October 24, 2024
Maggie Shane is a great author. I love all her books. This one was great. About the baby of the family finally meeting her special man. This is a bit of a mystery and love story combined.
Great book. Looking forward to reading the last one. I love the Brand family.
Great book. Looking forward to reading the last one. I love the Brand family.
January 1, 2025
Review
The last unmarried daughter and the youngest Brand is a practicing witch but hasn’t told her family. During a ceremony in the woods a strange man falls at her feet with a gunshot wound. A chase ensues with bad guys chasing the witch and the wounded guy.
Enjoy
The last unmarried daughter and the youngest Brand is a practicing witch but hasn’t told her family. During a ceremony in the woods a strange man falls at her feet with a gunshot wound. A chase ensues with bad guys chasing the witch and the wounded guy.
Enjoy
January 9, 2018
Arlene, the youngest
Loved the characters. Story unfolded naturally. Love the way Ms. Shayne writes. Believable characters, flowing stories. Riviting. Worth the read. Addicting
Loved the characters. Story unfolded naturally. Love the way Ms. Shayne writes. Believable characters, flowing stories. Riviting. Worth the read. Addicting
February 23, 2018
Maggie Shayne has done it again. What a page turner. I'm ready for the next.
December 26, 2018
Excellent Read!
I really enjoyed reading this book! A ton of action! I know everyone who reads this book will enjoy it! I will definitely recommend this book to others!
I really enjoyed reading this book! A ton of action! I know everyone who reads this book will enjoy it! I will definitely recommend this book to others!
January 6, 2019
Good read!
I really enjoyed the drama and mystery along with the love story. So far I’ve enjoyed all of the Oklahoma Brand stories.
I really enjoyed the drama and mystery along with the love story. So far I’ve enjoyed all of the Oklahoma Brand stories.
December 22, 2022
One Magic Summer (Oklahoma Brands Book 5)
Full of mystery and mystic, Selene and Cory's storyline is whimsical and yet steadfast. Those Brands sure don't do it the easy way!
Full of mystery and mystic, Selene and Cory's storyline is whimsical and yet steadfast. Those Brands sure don't do it the easy way!
March 1, 2017
Amazing
Maggie Shayne has come through as always.Fast moving with just the right amount of action,mystery and suspense to keep you coming back for more.
Maggie Shayne has come through as always.Fast moving with just the right amount of action,mystery and suspense to keep you coming back for more.
May 12, 2012
It's too bad the beginning of this book was so irritating because the end was pretty exciting.
I liked the idea of a Wiccan heroine. But I found Selene to be an unbearable know it all, I couldn't enjoy the relationship with Corey. Not only that but no matter how true to her heart it was that she had found her soul mate, she sounded like a creepy stalker throughout the 1st 3rd of the book.
I did eventually come to like her well enough and did find all the racing around through the wilderness at the end to be well paced and a good conclusion, but it really was too late to save me from truly enjoying this one
I liked the idea of a Wiccan heroine. But I found Selene to be an unbearable know it all, I couldn't enjoy the relationship with Corey. Not only that but no matter how true to her heart it was that she had found her soul mate, she sounded like a creepy stalker throughout the 1st 3rd of the book.
I did eventually come to like her well enough and did find all the racing around through the wilderness at the end to be well paced and a good conclusion, but it really was too late to save me from truly enjoying this one
May 28, 2016
From the other books in this Oklahoma Brand series you know that daughter Selene is a little different. In this book it's a little more than "she just knows" to getting slapped with her being a witch with her own coven right on the first page. I am not opposed to books regarding witchcraft/Wiccan. Actually the author gives a wonderful explanation in her post note. What bothered me was Selene declaring to Corey, while an amnesiac, her true love- soul mate. What guy wouldn't back pedal here?! Then all she could think about was getting intimate with him at the first chance. All the Texas Brands join in the hunt. This book just wasn't MY favorite in this series.
February 8, 2015
Selene Brand is a witch, but has to keep it a secret because of the closed minds of the small town she lives in... One night her and her friends are dancing naked at the falls, a man stumbles out of the forrest bleeding... Selene helps him, but he has no memory and the police think she tried to kill him... She's determined that he's her soul mate, but he thinks it's hocus pocus.... Selene runs away when her mother doesn't believe in her and finds Cory running from someone trying to kill him... Then they both set out to find the truth....
December 18, 2016
What a wonderful and different kind of love story! Magic, action, thrill, love and lot of Brand power and intensity! Just as this family has accustumed us in and with their stories!!!!! Love the natural power of Selene and that conection with earth; that solid trust in herself and her beliefs no matter what! i was waiting for her to fall in love and the story fullfill my expectations!
Im beginning asap with the matriarch of this bunch! Can't wait!!!
Im beginning asap with the matriarch of this bunch! Can't wait!!!
January 11, 2015
The baby of the family is all grown up.
I absolutely loved this book. I even enjoyed the witch aspect. The family knew Selene was different so they should have seen this coming. Cory is perfect for Selene. He falls at her feet and needs her to help him grow as a person, he just doesn't know that til the end.
I absolutely loved this book. I even enjoyed the witch aspect. The family knew Selene was different so they should have seen this coming. Cory is perfect for Selene. He falls at her feet and needs her to help him grow as a person, he just doesn't know that til the end.
January 11, 2015
Maggie Shayne does it again!
I decided to read the Oklahoma Brands after reading the Texas Brands books. I haven't been disappointed in any of the books, they kept me interested all the time. They can be a little hokey at times but I still really enjoyed it. I haven't read a Maggie Shayne book yet that I haven't liked.
I decided to read the Oklahoma Brands after reading the Texas Brands books. I haven't been disappointed in any of the books, they kept me interested all the time. They can be a little hokey at times but I still really enjoyed it. I haven't read a Maggie Shayne book yet that I haven't liked.
June 21, 2015
Soul mates meet during crisis.
Selene Brand is a practicing Wiccan, a witch. She and four of "witch" friends had just completed a ceremony out by a waterfall when an injured man fell at her feet, wow, this is the beginning of a dangerous adventure. Love this series, great story!
Selene Brand is a practicing Wiccan, a witch. She and four of "witch" friends had just completed a ceremony out by a waterfall when an injured man fell at her feet, wow, this is the beginning of a dangerous adventure. Love this series, great story!
July 7, 2016
While I enjoyed the series (tbh though I haven't read the last one) this one was my fave! It's a pure romance with a bit of magic and real life adventure!
The attraction of the series as a whole though is in the strong female representation and the bonds of family. There are characters you'll like more than others but overall each book is a fun, easy read!
The attraction of the series as a whole though is in the strong female representation and the bonds of family. There are characters you'll like more than others but overall each book is a fun, easy read!
June 28, 2012
Great addition to the series. I fell in love with this series so much tht I have read them numerous times. I was always ready to know how Selene's story turned out. And it couldn't have been better.
April 22, 2017
I loved it thought it was great cute and romantic the way she kept tell g he and her were meant to be it was there destiny.
Never thought I would like a book about witches but this was really good and really enjoyed it.
Never thought I would like a book about witches but this was really good and really enjoyed it.
December 5, 2014
One Magic Summer review
One Magic Summer is the fifth book in the Oklahoma Brands series written by author Maggie Shayne. It's about Selene the youngest daughter and a little bit of magic.
One Magic Summer is the fifth book in the Oklahoma Brands series written by author Maggie Shayne. It's about Selene the youngest daughter and a little bit of magic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews