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Lone Star Intrigue #1
Texas Heat
A woman is wrongly accused—and one man will risk everything to prove her innocence and save her life. The last thing Jack Mansfield ever wanted was to arrest his former sweetheart—especially with her crying five-year-old hanging on to her. But Jack is the police chief of Bullard, Texas, and records indicate Charli has embezzled more than $100,000 from the bank where she works. Charli swears she's innocent, but Jack must abide by the law. Charli thought she had pieced her life back together after her first husband left her alone and pregnant. But now she sits in a jail cell, accused of a crime she did not commit, with a little girl waiting on the outside. Charli's faith has always kept her steady during the ups and downs of life, but she can't deny she's now close to despair. Jack has harbored unrequited love for Charli for over a decade; and that love drives him to task himself and his private-eye brother, Sonny, to prove her innocence and find the perpetrator. But Jack and Charli will never have their happily-ever-after if she goes to prison...or is murdered by the person who framed her. Will they find the true culprit in time to save Charli's life and finally give their love a chance? Includes discussion questions, a letter from the author, and a preview of book two in the Lone Star Intrigue series
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2009
4 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Debra White Smith
67 books106 followersDebra White Smith is a seasoned Christian author, speaker, and media personality who has been regularly publishing books for over a decade. In the last twelve years, she has accumulated more than 55 books sales to her credit with more than 1 million books in print. Her titles include such life-changing books as Romancing Your Husband, Romancing Your Wife, The Divine Romance: Developing Intimacy with God, the The Lonestar Intrigue fiction series, and The Jane Austen fiction series.
As a woman of God, Debra is committed to the highest standards of integrity and to spending hours a week being still before the Father, staying in tune with Him, and listening for His voice of direction in all she does. This commitment to romancing the Lord, coupled with her lifestyle of devouring, analyzing, and dissecting the Word of God has allowed God to bring about a miracle of deliverance and healing in Debra's spirit, mind, and soul. Debra holds a double Ph.D. from the toughest schools in the world. The first Ph.D. from the "School of Hard Knocks" and the second, from the "School of Very Hard Knocks." Aside from that, she holds an M.A. in English from the University of Texas.
Along with Debra's being voted a fiction-reader favorite several times, her book Romancing Your Husband was a finalist in the 2003 Gold Medallion Awards. And her Austen Series novel First Impressions was a finalist in the 2005 Retailer's Choice Awards. Debra has been a popular media guest across the nation, including Fox TV, The 700 Club, ABC Radio, USA Radio Network, and Moody Broadcasting. Her favorite hobbies include fishing, bargain-hunting, and swimming with her family. Debra also vows she would walk 50 miles for a scoop of German chocolate ice cream.
As a woman of God, Debra is committed to the highest standards of integrity and to spending hours a week being still before the Father, staying in tune with Him, and listening for His voice of direction in all she does. This commitment to romancing the Lord, coupled with her lifestyle of devouring, analyzing, and dissecting the Word of God has allowed God to bring about a miracle of deliverance and healing in Debra's spirit, mind, and soul. Debra holds a double Ph.D. from the toughest schools in the world. The first Ph.D. from the "School of Hard Knocks" and the second, from the "School of Very Hard Knocks." Aside from that, she holds an M.A. in English from the University of Texas.
Along with Debra's being voted a fiction-reader favorite several times, her book Romancing Your Husband was a finalist in the 2003 Gold Medallion Awards. And her Austen Series novel First Impressions was a finalist in the 2005 Retailer's Choice Awards. Debra has been a popular media guest across the nation, including Fox TV, The 700 Club, ABC Radio, USA Radio Network, and Moody Broadcasting. Her favorite hobbies include fishing, bargain-hunting, and swimming with her family. Debra also vows she would walk 50 miles for a scoop of German chocolate ice cream.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 9, 2015
Good Christian Romance
Quick fun read. Predictable in the storyline but still a great mystery romance with a bit of humor thrown in also. Would recommend if you want a light read.
Quick fun read. Predictable in the storyline but still a great mystery romance with a bit of humor thrown in also. Would recommend if you want a light read.
April 1, 2025
The title worried me because I’m not a big romance reader but when I read what it was about I was hooked. Being a Mom of a little girl myself I was on the edge of my seat for one of the main characters, it was a fast read, not becuase it’s a short book but because I had to know what was going to happen to her! I enjoyed how visual this book was as I read it. Overall a good read
July 7, 2018
I loved this book!! great story!!.1st time reading this author!!
March 29, 2019
Tried it with Andy in March, 2019. Went half way. Boring. two stars for good story idea.
March 21, 2020
Not a bad book, but not very believable either. I kept getting frustrated with Charli and Jack! A quick, easy read.
January 23, 2016
TEXAS HEAT by Debra White Smith made for a quick read with characters that were real and welcoming.
Charli Friedmont moves back to her hometown of Bullard, Texas, in hopes of putting her unsuccessful marriage behind her and to give her daughter, Bonnie, a quiet and secure upbringing. When Charli is arrested for embezzling from the bank she works at, her peaceful, simple life is upended. With no family or friends to turn to other than her Pastor and wife, she has no choice but to accept the help of Sheriff Jack Mansfield, the man that just arrested her . . . and the man whose heart she broke when they were young lovers in college.
Sheriff Jack Mansfield had wanted to renew his friendship with Charli since the day she arrived back in town. Arresting her was not on his list of ways to get reacquainted. With the evidence stacked against her, Jack has no choice but to take her into custody and hold her until bail can be secured. But knowing Charli is not capable of illegal activity, he hires Sonny Mansfield, his private detective brother, to get to the bottom of what has to be a set-up.
While trying to unravel the false charges against her, Charli and Jack struggle with where they stand personally. Charli hates herself for the way she treated Jack years ago and feels he deserves so much more than a single mom who might be on her way to jail. Jack feels the tug-o-war between his ego that says, move on before you get hurt again, and his heart that says, love is worth the risk.
TEXAS HEAT was an easy read with all the settings I am a sucker for. Who can resist a Texas cowboy, a damsel in despair, and the great outdoors? Though the story between Jack and Charli was well scripted, I didn’t feel the plot that brought them together was written to completion. Setting someone up for embezzling is quite a feat, yet the readers are never told how this was accomplished. There were a few other sub-plots that I felt were breezed over, but all in all, TEXAS HEAT kept my interest enough to have me waiting for the sequel TEXAS PURSUIT.
Charli Friedmont moves back to her hometown of Bullard, Texas, in hopes of putting her unsuccessful marriage behind her and to give her daughter, Bonnie, a quiet and secure upbringing. When Charli is arrested for embezzling from the bank she works at, her peaceful, simple life is upended. With no family or friends to turn to other than her Pastor and wife, she has no choice but to accept the help of Sheriff Jack Mansfield, the man that just arrested her . . . and the man whose heart she broke when they were young lovers in college.
Sheriff Jack Mansfield had wanted to renew his friendship with Charli since the day she arrived back in town. Arresting her was not on his list of ways to get reacquainted. With the evidence stacked against her, Jack has no choice but to take her into custody and hold her until bail can be secured. But knowing Charli is not capable of illegal activity, he hires Sonny Mansfield, his private detective brother, to get to the bottom of what has to be a set-up.
While trying to unravel the false charges against her, Charli and Jack struggle with where they stand personally. Charli hates herself for the way she treated Jack years ago and feels he deserves so much more than a single mom who might be on her way to jail. Jack feels the tug-o-war between his ego that says, move on before you get hurt again, and his heart that says, love is worth the risk.
TEXAS HEAT was an easy read with all the settings I am a sucker for. Who can resist a Texas cowboy, a damsel in despair, and the great outdoors? Though the story between Jack and Charli was well scripted, I didn’t feel the plot that brought them together was written to completion. Setting someone up for embezzling is quite a feat, yet the readers are never told how this was accomplished. There were a few other sub-plots that I felt were breezed over, but all in all, TEXAS HEAT kept my interest enough to have me waiting for the sequel TEXAS PURSUIT.
September 2, 2009
Texas Heat
Lone Star Intrigue Book One
Debra White Smith
2009
Avon Inspire
An Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers
Fiction/Christian/Romance/Suspense
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
Jack Mansfield has it bad, but he has always had it bad, where Charli is concerned. Eleven years earlier, she had broken his heart and dumped him for a no-good, that she married. Vince, did not take long to show her just how no good he was. He left her and the baby and headed out for parts unknown, and Charli came home.
Jack, now the police chief, has been trying slowly to get her to warm back up to him. But she has changed, she is not the same person he once knew. How much has she changed is the big question? Especially after he has to arrest her for embezzlement.
Charli is innocent, and Jack is convinced that she is also. But how to prove it, when the evidence is so overwhelming. Jack's brother a private investigator is on the case. Jack is in protection mode. And someone is upset, that she is “fighting” back and now Charli is in danger.
This story unfolds, you will be amazed at the depth of the story. This is not just a romance, nor is it just a mystery. The author deals with deep situations in life, such as abandonment, mental illness, co-dependency and deaths of loved ones. Debra White Smith, has brought a awesome story to life in this book. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book, for book clubs or study groups. You will be pleased to know that this is the beginning of the Lone Star Intrigue Series. There is an excerpt for the next book at the end of the book. 218 pages $12.99 US
Lone Star Intrigue Book One
Debra White Smith
2009
Avon Inspire
An Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers
Fiction/Christian/Romance/Suspense
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
Jack Mansfield has it bad, but he has always had it bad, where Charli is concerned. Eleven years earlier, she had broken his heart and dumped him for a no-good, that she married. Vince, did not take long to show her just how no good he was. He left her and the baby and headed out for parts unknown, and Charli came home.
Jack, now the police chief, has been trying slowly to get her to warm back up to him. But she has changed, she is not the same person he once knew. How much has she changed is the big question? Especially after he has to arrest her for embezzlement.
Charli is innocent, and Jack is convinced that she is also. But how to prove it, when the evidence is so overwhelming. Jack's brother a private investigator is on the case. Jack is in protection mode. And someone is upset, that she is “fighting” back and now Charli is in danger.
This story unfolds, you will be amazed at the depth of the story. This is not just a romance, nor is it just a mystery. The author deals with deep situations in life, such as abandonment, mental illness, co-dependency and deaths of loved ones. Debra White Smith, has brought a awesome story to life in this book. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book, for book clubs or study groups. You will be pleased to know that this is the beginning of the Lone Star Intrigue Series. There is an excerpt for the next book at the end of the book. 218 pages $12.99 US
February 16, 2011
I was so excited to see a book set in Bullard, TX, as I have family there. Thankfully this book didn’t disappoint one bit. And how fun to have two novels bound together so that when you finish the first book you can immediately start the next, with characters you’ve already come to know and love.
While at times Lone Star Intrigue was somewhat predictable, other times the suspense and twists were absolutely unexpected. And lest anybody interpret predictable as being a negative, let me hasten to add that sometimes, especially at the end of a stressful day, a predictable book can be as calming as a close friend. Rather than predictable maybe I should use the word dependable – I can depend on the author to get the characters out of a bad situation and make everything ok by the end. And that’s a good thing.
I absolutely can recommend this book (or both books if you find them separately) as a great, light read. And I’m looking forward to the final book with much anticipation!
While at times Lone Star Intrigue was somewhat predictable, other times the suspense and twists were absolutely unexpected. And lest anybody interpret predictable as being a negative, let me hasten to add that sometimes, especially at the end of a stressful day, a predictable book can be as calming as a close friend. Rather than predictable maybe I should use the word dependable – I can depend on the author to get the characters out of a bad situation and make everything ok by the end. And that’s a good thing.
I absolutely can recommend this book (or both books if you find them separately) as a great, light read. And I’m looking forward to the final book with much anticipation!
April 11, 2011
Both books are enjoyable and fast-paced. For me, the religious element was somewhat overdone in Texas Pursuit, but I am sure that is exactly what will appeal to many other readers. What most enchanted me while reading both novels is the lovely East Texas setting. While I am familiar with Bullard and have been through that town several times, I am most familiar with Tyler, as, at almost 100,000 in population, it is the closest large-size city to my rural home. I also vividly recall the scorching heat and awful humidity we had in this area last summer. The description of the sweltering heat and humidity in both novels was masterfully and accurately conveyed.
Laurie
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
FULL REVIEW: http://coffeetimeromance.com/BookRevi...
Laurie
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
FULL REVIEW: http://coffeetimeromance.com/BookRevi...
April 25, 2011
Ok, but the ending was rather abrupt.
I've read a lot of Mary Higgins Clark books, and I found the past few years, quite a number of Christian books, including this one, pattern their style of writing on her books. There is always the "bad guy" lurking, watching, and waiting his chance to "get" someone. The story goes from the main character to the "bad guy" throughout the whole book. Very boring after a while. No imagination, even though maybe the storyline is ok.
I liked books better several years ago, when each author had their own style of writing.
I've read a lot of Mary Higgins Clark books, and I found the past few years, quite a number of Christian books, including this one, pattern their style of writing on her books. There is always the "bad guy" lurking, watching, and waiting his chance to "get" someone. The story goes from the main character to the "bad guy" throughout the whole book. Very boring after a while. No imagination, even though maybe the storyline is ok.
I liked books better several years ago, when each author had their own style of writing.
January 18, 2015
Loved this story
Loved this romantic suspense, well written with a powerful message. Jack has loved Charlie for over a decade, even when she left him and married another. He has been working on building a rapport with her daughter Bonnie. This story deals with how a dysfunctional family affects our future. How we need to lea on God for healing a nd how we need to trust Him. When Jack finally turned everything over to God's will things started to change.
Was very well written, good mystery a nd very suspenseful. I liked it a lot.
Loved this romantic suspense, well written with a powerful message. Jack has loved Charlie for over a decade, even when she left him and married another. He has been working on building a rapport with her daughter Bonnie. This story deals with how a dysfunctional family affects our future. How we need to lea on God for healing a nd how we need to trust Him. When Jack finally turned everything over to God's will things started to change.
Was very well written, good mystery a nd very suspenseful. I liked it a lot.
Want to read
July 21, 2010
September 9, 2013
this book was good did find a little predictable during the book but the end did get me going to wanting to know what happens with the characters. great that they have a part of the next book at the end.
quick read fun book.
quick read fun book.
August 31, 2009
This had an interesting premise and great set-up, but I felt like the second half of the book was rushed and didn't develop as well as the first.
March 20, 2010
I enjoyed Debra White Smith's Jane Austen series so I decided to try this one. Blah. It was all right, but... Blah.
August 3, 2010
Fun, clean and moral romance, great suspense,and a quick summer read. Not great but good, fun, and clean.
February 13, 2011
Great Suspense!
Read
June 17, 2011Not bad but a bit heavy on the religious themes for me.
October 3, 2011
Can the main character do anything but cry?! Her passiveness really got on my nerves!
August 9, 2015
Interesting book with a who done it mixed in. First time reading this author.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews