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Texas Star
IN THE SUN'S BLAZE..
Ebon-haired Star Garner was a wanted woman--and Chris Gillard was determined to collect the generous bounty for bringing her in. He caught the lovely fugitive... but then she trapped him--bewitching him with her luscious figure and innocent onyx eyes. Instead of returning her straightaway to the law, the hot-blooded cowboy took her to his ranch. There he tried to have his fill of her, at high noon and at darkest night, but once he tasted her magnolia-petal flesh, it was impossible to sate his unquenchable desire.
BY THE MOON'S GLOW..
Desperate to be free again, Star made love to her captor as if her life depended on it. The beautiful outlaw sacrificed her very soul to please him... until, to her horror, she discovered she craved and needed his raw, masculine force. Still, she knew Chris had his price and he'd turn her in with no regrets. But what she never counted on was his obsession with her--and how he'd pursue the sleek beauty to the ends of the earth to forever to possess his fiery TEXAS STAR.
Ebon-haired Star Garner was a wanted woman--and Chris Gillard was determined to collect the generous bounty for bringing her in. He caught the lovely fugitive... but then she trapped him--bewitching him with her luscious figure and innocent onyx eyes. Instead of returning her straightaway to the law, the hot-blooded cowboy took her to his ranch. There he tried to have his fill of her, at high noon and at darkest night, but once he tasted her magnolia-petal flesh, it was impossible to sate his unquenchable desire.
BY THE MOON'S GLOW..
Desperate to be free again, Star made love to her captor as if her life depended on it. The beautiful outlaw sacrificed her very soul to please him... until, to her horror, she discovered she craved and needed his raw, masculine force. Still, she knew Chris had his price and he'd turn her in with no regrets. But what she never counted on was his obsession with her--and how he'd pursue the sleek beauty to the ends of the earth to forever to possess his fiery TEXAS STAR.
461 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1987
1 person is currently reading
80 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 19, 2023
Oh boy, is this book low-rated here on Goodreads! Especially by friends whose opinions I value very much. When I first read this 9 years ago, it was hovering around 4 stars. Currently, it's rated 3 stars and dropping. If more individuals born after 1980 decide to read this, it will to dip to two stars, no doubt.
If as a reader you have a low threshold for kidnapping, rape by the hero, implied incest, Stockholm syndrome, Texas Star probably won't be for you.
On the other hand, for me Deana James's Texas Star is a riveting, emotional, action-packed novel. It's an underappreciated gem of an epic Western. Perhaps it's not a perfect example of a romance, but a fascinating character study less deserving of scorn.
I know this is going to sound pretentious and self-aggrandizing, and maybe it is, but most of you contemporary readers aren't very forgiving of certain harsh elements in fiction--historical romance, especially. It's a shame, because fiction is fiction, not real life! One misses out on a lot of impactful themes when one views historical fiction through a lens of rigid modern morality.
When we meet Estrella Luisa Garner y Montejo (Shouldn't Mexican/Spanish naming customs dictate her name be Estrella Luisa Montejo de Garner? *shrug*), aka Star Garner, she is at the lowest point a human can exist. Star is wanted in Texas for the murder of Luke Garner, her excrement pig of a husband.
A jury found her guilty of the charges, but before the hangman's noose could stretch her neck like a goose, her brother, Tomas, broke her out jail, saving her in the nick of time. With Tomas and his family she had found temporary refuge on his Mexican estate.
Chris Gillard is sometimes bounty-hunter determined to catch the wanted fugitive. He needs money to support his failing ranch. Chris arrives at the Mexican hacienda, posing as a genial fellow interested in purchasing some horses. He accepts their polite hospitality only to kidnap Star in the middle of night, dragging her across the border into Texas.
Star has been in a state of shock since long before the book opens. One thing is evident: she doesn't like herself much.
As they travel together, they get physically close, and Star can't attempt any resistance when Chris, her kidnapper, thinks she's trying to make a move on him. He fondles her in return then takes her lack of resistance as consent. So he initiates sex.
Star is still traumatized from her husband's violent rapes. Now here is another man who would violate her body. She recalls what she had to do for her husband to not hurt her. Star becomes the more active partner, turning her rape into what Chris truly believes is mutually enjoyable fuck (which says something about his sexual experience!).
Chris is obviously not a woman's man. He has no clue about them, other than they're good for sex. He's self-centered and not open-minded in the slightest. A terrible first marriage left him cold and bitter. Long ago, he had been an optimistic young man who thought the brightest days lay ahead, but no longer.
Chris has a son, named Duff, whom he ignores as he tend to his struggling ranch. Star forms a strong bond with little Duff, as Chris has brought her to his ranch, keeping her there until he can collect his bounty.
Again Star throws herself at Chris, hoping that if she gives him good sex he won't turn her in.
How low, how desperate must a woman be to turn to her captor for help?
And how low and how disgusting is Chris for using her, with no intention of setting her free?
Yet strangely, despite this, she and Chris get to know one another, revealing bits of themselves little by little. Shedding off the past, they take in new elements and a transformation begins.
Matthew Garner, Luke's father, was the man who paid the bounty on Star's head. But he doesn't want her dead. He wants her. Or more accurately, he wants to use her body to bear a son to replace the one she killed.
The story's true antagonist is revealed to be Maude, Matthew's sister. She is shown to be true mastermind behind the Garner family's power and wealth, the person responsible for their flourishing ranch. She is a complex character.
I love a great villain, and Maude makes all her scenes fun to experience, because I wanted to see her get the best of her brother.
As the story evolves, Star breaks out of her insensible state. Her love of horses, her relationship with Duff, her strange connection with Chris all these things and more cause her to change into a more confident woman. It's a fascinating metamorphosis, subtly done, but very satisfying.
Star proves she is not as weak as she appeared in the beginning of the book.
But Chris is a flawed man. Even as it seems he is starting to care for her, her turns Star in for the money, handing her over like a lamb to a pack of wolves: the Garner clan.
I don't hate Chris. He's not a mustache-twirling villain. He's just a man limited by his experiences and multiple disappointments. He's a failure at so many things in life and that can't be easy on the soul.
Maybe by going back to save Star he has a chance to rewrite a grave wrong.
But this is Star's story, not Chris'. In the end, it's a showdown of woman vs. woman with Star saving Chris's life.
I personally love the captive-captor trope and all the conflict that comes with it. Can a captive ever truly give consent? Can the cruel hero re-evaluate his way of thinking and become a better man? Although I believe Chris has accomplished that by the end, his development is not as well-shown as Star's is.
I was so immersed in this, I wanted Star to kick Christopher in the nuts and make him see the truth.
I wanted to shake Star and convince her that she had more value as a person than just being a body for men's use!
I exclaimed "Hell yes!" when Star killed her attacker.
Deana James crafted an excellently brutal western in Texas Star. I can understand readers' distaste for the multiple rapes, and if they're repelled by how weak Star seems at the beginning. However, she is not the same person by the conclusion that she was on the first page.
In the end, Star grows to be the woman she was destined to: a lady of Texas, one who endures all the harshness of life to survive and thrive, because within her is that wonderfully feminine strength that is fortitude.
I rated this an A- back when I gave letter grades, or 92 out of 100. It's still a 5 star read for me.
But don't let that beautiful Pino cover fool you, this is not a sweet romance.
No, Texas Star is much more than that. I'm grateful for Deana James to have gifted fiction with Star's story.
If as a reader you have a low threshold for kidnapping, rape by the hero, implied incest, Stockholm syndrome, Texas Star probably won't be for you.
On the other hand, for me Deana James's Texas Star is a riveting, emotional, action-packed novel. It's an underappreciated gem of an epic Western. Perhaps it's not a perfect example of a romance, but a fascinating character study less deserving of scorn.
I know this is going to sound pretentious and self-aggrandizing, and maybe it is, but most of you contemporary readers aren't very forgiving of certain harsh elements in fiction--historical romance, especially. It's a shame, because fiction is fiction, not real life! One misses out on a lot of impactful themes when one views historical fiction through a lens of rigid modern morality.
When we meet Estrella Luisa Garner y Montejo (Shouldn't Mexican/Spanish naming customs dictate her name be Estrella Luisa Montejo de Garner? *shrug*), aka Star Garner, she is at the lowest point a human can exist. Star is wanted in Texas for the murder of Luke Garner, her excrement pig of a husband.
A jury found her guilty of the charges, but before the hangman's noose could stretch her neck like a goose, her brother, Tomas, broke her out jail, saving her in the nick of time. With Tomas and his family she had found temporary refuge on his Mexican estate.
Chris Gillard is sometimes bounty-hunter determined to catch the wanted fugitive. He needs money to support his failing ranch. Chris arrives at the Mexican hacienda, posing as a genial fellow interested in purchasing some horses. He accepts their polite hospitality only to kidnap Star in the middle of night, dragging her across the border into Texas.
Star has been in a state of shock since long before the book opens. One thing is evident: she doesn't like herself much.
As they travel together, they get physically close, and Star can't attempt any resistance when Chris, her kidnapper, thinks she's trying to make a move on him. He fondles her in return then takes her lack of resistance as consent. So he initiates sex.
Star is still traumatized from her husband's violent rapes. Now here is another man who would violate her body. She recalls what she had to do for her husband to not hurt her. Star becomes the more active partner, turning her rape into what Chris truly believes is mutually enjoyable fuck (which says something about his sexual experience!).
Chris is obviously not a woman's man. He has no clue about them, other than they're good for sex. He's self-centered and not open-minded in the slightest. A terrible first marriage left him cold and bitter. Long ago, he had been an optimistic young man who thought the brightest days lay ahead, but no longer.
Chris has a son, named Duff, whom he ignores as he tend to his struggling ranch. Star forms a strong bond with little Duff, as Chris has brought her to his ranch, keeping her there until he can collect his bounty.
Again Star throws herself at Chris, hoping that if she gives him good sex he won't turn her in.
How low, how desperate must a woman be to turn to her captor for help?
And how low and how disgusting is Chris for using her, with no intention of setting her free?
Yet strangely, despite this, she and Chris get to know one another, revealing bits of themselves little by little. Shedding off the past, they take in new elements and a transformation begins.
Matthew Garner, Luke's father, was the man who paid the bounty on Star's head. But he doesn't want her dead. He wants her. Or more accurately, he wants to use her body to bear a son to replace the one she killed.
The story's true antagonist is revealed to be Maude, Matthew's sister. She is shown to be true mastermind behind the Garner family's power and wealth, the person responsible for their flourishing ranch. She is a complex character.
I love a great villain, and Maude makes all her scenes fun to experience, because I wanted to see her get the best of her brother.
As the story evolves, Star breaks out of her insensible state. Her love of horses, her relationship with Duff, her strange connection with Chris all these things and more cause her to change into a more confident woman. It's a fascinating metamorphosis, subtly done, but very satisfying.
Star proves she is not as weak as she appeared in the beginning of the book.
But Chris is a flawed man. Even as it seems he is starting to care for her, her turns Star in for the money, handing her over like a lamb to a pack of wolves: the Garner clan.
I don't hate Chris. He's not a mustache-twirling villain. He's just a man limited by his experiences and multiple disappointments. He's a failure at so many things in life and that can't be easy on the soul.
Maybe by going back to save Star he has a chance to rewrite a grave wrong.
But this is Star's story, not Chris'. In the end, it's a showdown of woman vs. woman with Star saving Chris's life.
I personally love the captive-captor trope and all the conflict that comes with it. Can a captive ever truly give consent? Can the cruel hero re-evaluate his way of thinking and become a better man? Although I believe Chris has accomplished that by the end, his development is not as well-shown as Star's is.
I was so immersed in this, I wanted Star to kick Christopher in the nuts and make him see the truth.
I wanted to shake Star and convince her that she had more value as a person than just being a body for men's use!
I exclaimed "Hell yes!" when Star killed her attacker.
Deana James crafted an excellently brutal western in Texas Star. I can understand readers' distaste for the multiple rapes, and if they're repelled by how weak Star seems at the beginning. However, she is not the same person by the conclusion that she was on the first page.
In the end, Star grows to be the woman she was destined to: a lady of Texas, one who endures all the harshness of life to survive and thrive, because within her is that wonderfully feminine strength that is fortitude.
I rated this an A- back when I gave letter grades, or 92 out of 100. It's still a 5 star read for me.
But don't let that beautiful Pino cover fool you, this is not a sweet romance.
No, Texas Star is much more than that. I'm grateful for Deana James to have gifted fiction with Star's story.
June 2, 2020
This review is of “Texas Star”, #3 in the “Texas” series by Deana James.
The book doesn’t begin in Texas, but in Mexico, where Estrella Luisa Garner y Montejo, hereafter known as Star Garner, the heroine of the book, lives with her brother, Tomas, and his wife, Clara. Riding onto their property is a man calling himself “Christopher Stewart”, who claims he wants to breed his horse to Tomas’ horses. They don’t realize Christopher has ulterior motives.
It isn’t until he spirits Star away that he reveals the truth: his name is Christopher Stewart Gillard, the hero of the book, and he is a bounty hunter who was hired to bring Star back to Texas to die for the killing of her husband, Luke Garner. (Backstory: Christopher was hired by Matthew Garner, Luke’s father, to bring Star back after Luke was shot and killed, ostensibly by Star . Star was tried and convicted by a jury, but Tomas rescued her before she was hung. The story is far more complicated than that).
As Chris transports Star from Mexico to Texas, they become lovers. However, he also hits her and she is later raped by an attacker, whom she later kills. Chris takes Star to his ranch, where she meets his son, Duff, 5. (Duff’s mother, Christine, passed away giving birth to him). While there, Star hopes if she satisfies Chris sexually, he won’t turn her in.
Chris’s response: bringing Star to Crossways, Texas to be hung. Matthew, however, doesn’t plan to actually kill Star. He has other plans in mind for her.
Upon discovering that he was wrong about Star, Chris regrets bringing her back to Matthew and tries to rescue her. Maudie then hires him as her bodyguard, among other things. Chris leaves, then tries to spirit Star off Garner’s ranch. The rescue attempt is only partially successful, as Matthew catches up to them and shoots Chris, severely wounding him. Despite being wounded, Chris makes his way to Garner’s ranch, where Maudie is holding Duff hostage. She shoots Matthew, and tries to force Chris to marry and impregnate her. He is saved by Star, who shoots and kills Maudie after the truth of what happened to Luke is revealed.
In the end, Star and Chris realize they love each other, marry,and have their Happily Ever After
.
Upside: I suppose I can give Star credit for surviving her abusive relationship with Luke.
Downside: Having said that, she then engages in another abusive relationship with Chris, who, like Luke, emotionally, mentally, physically and sexually abuses her.
There are two romance novel tropes I absolutely hate. 1. Stockholm Syndrome romance. 2. Revenge/proxy romances, where the hero punishes the innocent heroine for something someone she either knows or doesn’t know did to the hero. “Texas Star” is in the former category. None of the primary characters are likeable. There are also multiple creepy elements, such as the fact that Maudie and Matthew-who were twins-were engaged in an incestuous relationship.
Sex: The sex scenes between Star and Chris range from coercive to not exciting.
Violence: Assault, battery, shootings, sodomy, and killings. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: Star may forgive Chris for his perfidy. I don’t. “Texas Star” is not the worst book I’ve ever read-that “honor” still belongs to Cassie Edwards’ putrid novel “Eugenia’s Embrace”-but it’s in the top 10 worst books I’ve read.
The book doesn’t begin in Texas, but in Mexico, where Estrella Luisa Garner y Montejo, hereafter known as Star Garner, the heroine of the book, lives with her brother, Tomas, and his wife, Clara. Riding onto their property is a man calling himself “Christopher Stewart”, who claims he wants to breed his horse to Tomas’ horses. They don’t realize Christopher has ulterior motives.
It isn’t until he spirits Star away that he reveals the truth: his name is Christopher Stewart Gillard, the hero of the book, and he is a bounty hunter who was hired to bring Star back to Texas to die for the killing of her husband, Luke Garner. (Backstory: Christopher was hired by Matthew Garner, Luke’s father, to bring Star back after Luke was shot and killed, ostensibly by Star . Star was tried and convicted by a jury, but Tomas rescued her before she was hung. The story is far more complicated than that).
As Chris transports Star from Mexico to Texas, they become lovers. However, he also hits her and she is later raped by an attacker, whom she later kills. Chris takes Star to his ranch, where she meets his son, Duff, 5. (Duff’s mother, Christine, passed away giving birth to him). While there, Star hopes if she satisfies Chris sexually, he won’t turn her in.
Chris’s response: bringing Star to Crossways, Texas to be hung. Matthew, however, doesn’t plan to actually kill Star. He has other plans in mind for her.
Upon discovering that he was wrong about Star, Chris regrets bringing her back to Matthew and tries to rescue her. Maudie then hires him as her bodyguard, among other things. Chris leaves, then tries to spirit Star off Garner’s ranch. The rescue attempt is only partially successful, as Matthew catches up to them and shoots Chris, severely wounding him. Despite being wounded, Chris makes his way to Garner’s ranch, where Maudie is holding Duff hostage. She shoots Matthew, and tries to force Chris to marry and impregnate her. He is saved by Star, who shoots and kills Maudie after the truth of what happened to Luke is revealed.
In the end, Star and Chris realize they love each other, marry,and have their Happily Ever After
.
Upside: I suppose I can give Star credit for surviving her abusive relationship with Luke.
Downside: Having said that, she then engages in another abusive relationship with Chris, who, like Luke, emotionally, mentally, physically and sexually abuses her.
There are two romance novel tropes I absolutely hate. 1. Stockholm Syndrome romance. 2. Revenge/proxy romances, where the hero punishes the innocent heroine for something someone she either knows or doesn’t know did to the hero. “Texas Star” is in the former category. None of the primary characters are likeable. There are also multiple creepy elements, such as the fact that Maudie and Matthew-who were twins-were engaged in an incestuous relationship.
Sex: The sex scenes between Star and Chris range from coercive to not exciting.
Violence: Assault, battery, shootings, sodomy, and killings. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: Star may forgive Chris for his perfidy. I don’t. “Texas Star” is not the worst book I’ve ever read-that “honor” still belongs to Cassie Edwards’ putrid novel “Eugenia’s Embrace”-but it’s in the top 10 worst books I’ve read.
December 3, 2014
synopsis:
star is a wanted woman and chris is going to bring her in. they meet, they clash, they fall in love, there is a misunderstanding, they get back together.
what i liked: pretty much nothing.
what i didn't like: to be honest, i can't remember anything about the book, except that i intensely disliked it. i didn't like the two main characters, i didn't like the story. it was well written (i think), even though it wasn't my cup of tea.
star is a wanted woman and chris is going to bring her in. they meet, they clash, they fall in love, there is a misunderstanding, they get back together.
what i liked: pretty much nothing.
what i didn't like: to be honest, i can't remember anything about the book, except that i intensely disliked it. i didn't like the two main characters, i didn't like the story. it was well written (i think), even though it wasn't my cup of tea.
November 21, 2018
The only saving grace that compelled me to finish this book was the good writing. The author had a great vocab and the writing was well done. The quality of the context was pretty damn bad.
Poor Star was brutally and savagely abused by her deceased husband and now there is a bounty on her head because it is believed she killed him. This being the only experience with men she has ever had she is justifiably scared of sex, and being of small stature and gently bred, terrified of retaliation. The 'hero', Chris, rapes her twice before he even notices any discomfort on her part from being so enflamed by her. Oh, and in between that time she is anally raped by some cowboys on the trail. through some pretty vivid imagery, "Hard, hot bruising flesh thrust and bored between her buttocks."
She is raped and roughed up so often I just don't see how this can be called a romance. After a failed escape attempt and Chris forces Star into his arms, she is magically and suddenly willing and unafraid, despite his previous cruelties and negligence. Then there is at least another 100 pages or so of her just being mistreated by her formers in laws. I've read books where the heroine perseveres through rape and abuse but this caliber was just so unsophisticated.
Poor Star was brutally and savagely abused by her deceased husband and now there is a bounty on her head because it is believed she killed him. This being the only experience with men she has ever had she is justifiably scared of sex, and being of small stature and gently bred, terrified of retaliation. The 'hero', Chris, rapes her twice before he even notices any discomfort on her part from being so enflamed by her. Oh, and in between that time she is anally raped by some cowboys on the trail. through some pretty vivid imagery, "Hard, hot bruising flesh thrust and bored between her buttocks."
She is raped and roughed up so often I just don't see how this can be called a romance. After a failed escape attempt and Chris forces Star into his arms, she is magically and suddenly willing and unafraid, despite his previous cruelties and negligence. Then there is at least another 100 pages or so of her just being mistreated by her formers in laws. I've read books where the heroine perseveres through rape and abuse but this caliber was just so unsophisticated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2010
Bounty hunter (Chris) kidnaps wanted criminal (Star) and drags her back to her father-in-law, but not before stopping at his ranch for a little (unwanted on her part) nookie. Star killed abusive husband, was sentenced to die for killing him & escaped to her brother's home. FIL wants her back, not to see her killed, but to marry her himself so that he can have another son (since she shot his only son). Bizarre & unwilling sex - twisted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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