Baddest Bride In Texas (The Texas Brand) (Silhouette Intimate Moments) [Paperback]

Maggie Shayne (Author)

Book Description

Series: Silhouette Intimate Moments | Publication Date: January 1, 1999

THE BLACKMAILED BRIDE

Two years ago, Kirsten Cowan had married the richest, meanest man in Texas—for reasons she had to hide from Adam Brand, the man she'd left standing at another altar….

Even now, Kirsten had to keep her secret, though she stood accused of her late husband's murder. Even though Adam Brand betrayed his own family to take her into hiding….

Because she knew the love they both felt couldn't be denied—just like the terrible, irreversible truth….

This family was born, bred—and bound to be wed—in Texas!

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Silhouette (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373079079
• ISBN-13: 978-0373079070
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #598,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Maggie Shayne has published 53 novels, all for major NY Publishers, in her 18 year career. So far. In 2012 she'll be releasing a brand new trilogy dubbed "The Portal" and its books will include MARK OF THE WITCH in October 2012, DAUGHTER OF THE SPELL CASTER in December 2012, and BLOOD OF THE SORCERESS in February 2013, all for MIRA Books.

Maggie has published westerns, category romances, romantic suspense, paranormal romances, urban fantasy, women's fiction, and just about everything in between, and is currently working on her first thriller. She's a winner of the RITA Award, the romance fiction industry's most prestigious prize, and has won countless others.

Maggie's "Twilight" series of vampire novels, officially known as Wings in the Night, began in 1993 with a TWILIGHT PHANTASIES from Silhouette Shadows. The series only just concluded with TWILIGHT FULFILLED in October 2011. (Printable list and reading order at the author's website and on her Facebook page.)

Besides being an author, Maggie is a Wiccan High Priestess, Reiki healer, Tarot Card Reader, unofficial Life Coach, Law of Attraction expert, advice columnist, and a licensed minister. Her long running newspaper advice column has just now been compiled into book form; SHAYNE ON YOU, the author's first non-fiction book.

Recently, Maggie has begun re-releasing her out of print novels in ebook format. So far these include FAIRYTALE, FOREVER ENCHANTED and ANNIE'S HERO, fantasy-romances she wrote for Avon Books (Harper Collins) in the early 1990's, and a novella WITCH MOON RISING, originally published by Spilled Candy Books.

There will be much more to come.

Of course Maggie's publishers also release E-versions of her works, and it's difficult for the average reader to tell whether an ebook is released by a publisher, or the author herself. Especially books that were previously published by a NY Publishing House. Just look for the "Publisher" listing in the book's information and you'll see what's what. The prices are usually a little bit lower on the books Maggie releases herself.

Maggie lives with her soulmate Lance in a tiny town called Taylor (phone exchange: Truxton, mailing address: Cincinnatus, tax map: Cuyler. Smalltown folks understand!) in New York State's little known but sprawling and gorgeous dairy farm & wine country near the Fingerlakes region. Together they have a pair of Old English Mastiffs (Dozer & Daisy,) a chubby little bulldog (Niblet), an arrogant cat (Glorificus,) a saltwater reef aquarium with two clown fish (Larry & Cill) and two damsels (Vinnie & Blue,) a bearded dragon (Captain Yellow Beard) and a life of utter contentment and joy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovers are reunited in a murder mystery., September 13, 1999

By 

"beawriter" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baddest Bride In Texas (The Texas Brand) (Silhouette Intimate Moments) (Paperback)

Contemporary romantic suspense General Setting: Modern Day Texas-- Two years before, Kirsten Cowan left Adam Brand standing at the altar while she married the richest and most hated man in town. Adam escaped to New York to forget Kirsten, and to make his fortune. Back in town, he is helping out his brother, Sheriff Garrett, when Kirsten calls. Adam doesn't want to stop hating Kirsten, but when she tells him she's standing in a room with her dead husband at her feet, the old protective feelings surface. Kirsten claims she is innocent, but when Sheriff Garrett and his brother, Adam, arrive, they find Kirsten bent over her dead husband's body with a gun in her hand. She tells them she shot at the killer. While Sheriff Garrett and Adam believe her, all the evidence points to Kirsten. Adam has to find a way to save Kirsten from going to jail but that means going against his big brother, the man who raised him and his siblings after their parents were killed.

The author has created a story filled with danger and adventure as well as romance. The author's skill is evident as the characters take on a life of their own and involve the reader in the suspense. The story flows smoothly with startling twists and turns. Both Kirsten's and Adam's points of view are used and the reader feels compassion for both of them as they are caught up in a web of suspicion. As the situation worsens, and all seems lost, Kirsten and Adam find solace in each other's arms. This is one romantic hero readers will fall in love with. I've never been to Texas, but the author brought the ruggard landscape to life. Maggy Shayne is a talented writer with a knack of pulling the reader into the story whether she's writing a time-travel, or a contemporary romance. I look forward to reading the other four books in this series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag, August 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Baddest Bride In Texas (The Texas Brand) (Silhouette Intimate Moments) (Paperback)

Bad title aside, THE BADDEST BRIDE could do a lot worse. Unfortunately, it does "do worse" at some parts, but all together this is a good romantic mystery with original twists. Five stars for a novel that strives to be different than some formula romance novels. Three stars for an unbelievably unrealistic resolution that rains on this book's parade. Kirsten's past (her huge secret) is indeed too huge to be forgiven so easily by Adam, the man Kirsten has always loved. And it takes away from the seriousness of what has plagued Adam for much of his life.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not up to par, September 19, 2007

By 

mahikahn (Columbus, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Baddest Bride In Texas (The Texas Brand) (Silhouette Intimate Moments) (Paperback)

I didn't think much of Kirsten in "The Husband She Can't Remember", because of the way she acted with Ben, her best friend's husband. The secret looks, whispered conversations and the incident at the DoJo. Unfortunately, my opinion of her didn't change in this book.

Questions: If Kirsten and Adam were together since they were 17, and their aborted wedding was 2 years ago, that would have made them 32 at the time. Why wait 15 years to get married?

She literally left Adam at the altar; in front of ½ the town. Did she leave him a note or anything?

Why didn't she just go to Adam instead of marrying Cowan and tell him what happened? She knew the Brands would make sure her father was protected no matter how they felt about her. Instead she humiliated Adam, lost the respect of his family and stuck her dad in a nursing home for two years. She threw her marriage and her wealth in Adam's face every chance she got.

When the Texas Rangers told her not to take a shower as she was covered in her husband's blood, and evidence, she was so arrogant that she did it anyway.

It made no sense for Adam to forgive her so easily, and end up apologizing to her because she was a liar. It wasn't what she did when she was practically a kid, although that was really awful, that was the worst but all the lies that came after. He apologized for not going after her two years ago when she married another man. Why would he?

Kirsten was not a likeable or honorable person. Only read this one if you're reading the series.