Tall, Dark, and Texan (Whispering Mountain) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: whispering mountain, Drummond Roak, Tattor Sims, Dolan Hatch (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Teagen McMurray is a strong man hardened by circumstance but morally upright. When Jessie Barton arrives with a letter from her late husband, Teagen’s bookseller friend Eli, asking him to help her and her daughters, he reluctantly extends them the shelter of his ranch. But matters are not as they seem, and soon Teagen finds himself battling both a rogue group trying to take over the prosperous horse-breeding operation and his own rapidly growing affection for Jessie and the girls. Thomas is a master at evoking Western settings and archetypes, and readers of her latest historical romance will also enjoy the continuing subplots revolving around supporting characters, and the hints of a possible fourth novel featuring little sister Sage. --Lynne Welch

Product Description

Teagen McMurray would ride to hell and back to protect his land. He’d certainly never felt that way about a woman. Not, at least, until Jessie Barton showed up with her three little girls, desperate for a place to stay. Suddenly he found himself proposing marriage, telling himself it was only to protect her and her children.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Jove (October 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515145432
• ISBN-13: 978-0515145434
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,076 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable pre Civil War Texas romance , November 4, 2008

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 1856 Hill Country Texas Teagen McMurray feels lonely as he runs Whispering Mountain Ranch. His brothers are married (see TEXAS PRINCESS and TEXAS RAIN) and his sister is away at school. However while he wants the love of a good woman, he also admits he enjoys the quietness of the spread.

With the death of her rescuer and jailer husband Eli, Widow Jessica Barton flees Chicago with her three preadolescent daughters to escape the "incarceration" her in-laws plan for their late son's daughters. Leaving behind Barton Bookstore to Eli's avaricious family, she heads to Whispering Ranch and Eli's friend Teagan. The four females make it to the ranch where Teagan takes them in. He persuades his guest to marry for the sake of her kids. She agrees but both hide from the other they want more than a marriage of convenience as each is in love; her from the time she read his letters to Eli back in Chicago and him from the moment the fearsome horde invaded his life and heart.

Though the theme has been used quite often, this is an enjoyable pre Civil War Texas romance as the lonely rancher and the frightened widow find love. Filled with passion and courage (trademarks of Ms. Thomas Texas tales), TALL DARK AND TEXAN is a warm historical.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the series, January 5, 2009

By	Janet (Colorado) - See all my reviews

I haven't read a lot of Jodi Thomas books. I did enjoy the Whispering Mountain series, though. This installment is my favorite of the 3. I really liked Teagan and Jessie. The chemistry between them was very strong. Teagan was a great hero - brooding and gruff on the outside, but a soft spot inside, yearning to be loved and to love. Jessie was his perfect counterpart.

But, what made the book especially good was the children. I am a sucker for romances with children who are written really well. The children were some of the best written, IMO. And the interactions between them and Teagan were heart-melting. They truly made the book great. The first breakfast scene where Teagan walks in and gets hit in the face with a flying sticky pancake, thrown by baby Bethie was priceless!

I highly recommend reading this, even if you don't read the others in the series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little too tame for my liking., March 6, 2009

By	GinRobi (Timmins, ON, Canada) - See all my reviews

When Jessie's husband dies, she's certain of two things: the bookstore will not be hers even after her husband's promise before his death, and that her husband's mother will stop at nothing to get her hands on the one living connection she has to her son - his children. Jessie refuses to allow that to happen, and fleas Chicago with her three daughters, Emily, Rose, and Bethie. She has only one hope - that once she reaches Texas, she'll be able to hide behind her lies and that Teagen McMurray will take them in.

When Teagen goes into town for supplies, a mother and her three young daughters are waiting for him. A letter from Eli Barton, Jessie's now dead husband, asking him to take them in. Believing the letter is from the only friend he has, he takes them home.

Both feel an attraction, but neither wants to acknowledge it. For Teagen, his land and ranch should come first. He distanced himself way from civilized nature that he wouldn't believe Jessie could ever feel something for him. Jessie's unsure of her feelings; the only man she's ever known physically was her husband, and after her parents death, her life wasn't all that great.

However, Teagen soon learns of Jessie's lies when a judge, a lawyer and the sheriff arrive with the legal right to take her children back to their grandmother; with no family or means to support herself and the girls, the judge has no choice but to grant the petition. Jessie doesn't have any relatives from California coming to get them. However, if Jessie was to be remarried...

Teagen marries her, if only to protect Jessie and the girls. But it would be in name only. He's determined that nothing will ever happen between them, and he'll find a house for them closer to town. And Jessie learns she's pregnant once again. But she's still holding more lies from Teagen. How will Teagen react when he finds out?

**There's a reason I don't read straight romance anymore. I need more "oomph" in my story, more substance, and this one lacked what I usually look for in a good book. If you're a pure romantic at heart, this is a book for you. Otherwise...

When Teagen first brings Jessie home, it's uncomfortable, but the more they talk, the more a friendship begins to form. That friendship is torn apart when one of her lies is revealed, and even though strained, later the relationship starts to rebuild.

Teagen is a strong rancher, devoted to his horses and the McMurray land. He's so far removed in a civilized manner, I can understand why he acts the way he does, but that's about it.

Jessie is stronger than she believes herself to be. And she really does love Teagen, even if he refuses to believe it. It's just that - I didn't feel it. Yes, I felt a physical attraction, a spark between them, but that's about it.

What I liked was Teagen's interaction with Jessie's girls. He had a difficult time getting through to the oldest, Emily, and we learn the reasons, and I truly fell in love with him for that alone.

But that's it. There was a plot, there is supposed to be an attack, but it wasn't that great an attack - over just as fast as it begins, and meanwhile, Teagen learns that all that correspondence with his friend Eli wasn't Eli at all, but with Jessie. When Teagen leaves to deal with the man who wants his land and horses, he's gone for months, and yet, not a word from him. It brought back the disconnection that you feel in the beginning and even when he returns, the contact between them was too brief for you to really feel anything between them but words.

Not a bad novel, but I won't be reading it again.