Customer Reviews

Tall, Dark, and Texan (Center Point Premier Romance (Large Print))

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

Jessica and her daughters leave Chicago to escape her in-laws' plans for them. They flee to her late husband's best friend Teagan who invites them into his home. Teagan who is lonely wants to marry her for the sake of the girls. Can this marriage of convenience stand the test of time and their inter feelings? This is not Thomas' best book. It does keep your attention. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"

In 1856 options for single women were limited especially a single woman with three children, no money and a heartless mother in law who was in a position to take her children. With no other options left to her, Widow Jessica Barton turned to the one person she felt could help, Teagen McMurray a friend she never met. Jessie knew she would be safe if only for little while on Teagen's horse ranch, so she packed her and her daughters' meager belongings and left Chicago for Texas and the Whispering Mountain Ranch.

Reaching the Whispering Mountain Ranch Jessie felt like she was home, but her peace at the ranch may not last when Teagen finds out the truth about his friendship with Eli Barton and the secrets Jessie was keeping.

Tall, Dark and Texan is a story to be enjoyed and one I loved from start to finish. The people outside of the sanctuary of his ranch feared Teagen. Not Jessie, she knew Teagen like no one else did and she knew there was so much more to him than what he showed on the exterior. Jessie's daughters were so entertaining, especially Rose. According to her the whole daily running of the ranch rested on her five year old shoulders. I love the slow pace of Teagen and Jessie's relationship. They became a family before they even realized it was happening. The only thing that could have made this story better for me was Sage and Roak finding their way to each other. Roak needs loving and being that this is third book in the Whispering Mountain trilogy, I'm afraid I may never know if he finds it. Tall, Dark and Texan is a great story, beautifully written and a terrific wrap up of the Whispering Mountain trilogy.

Ley
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I really enjoyed the previous books in the series so it was like returning to a family reunion when I read this one. Teagen is crusty, angry and trying hard to save his ranch from raiders while his brothers are away with their wives. He meets the widow of his former pen pal and her adorable three little girls at the stage and decides to take them in while she waits for word from her family in California. While the housekeeper and others take to the new family, Teagen slowly falls in love. With a vindictive mother in law plotting in the background, some standard romance novel plot manipulations and a sweet simple love story, Thomas makes sure the reader stays involved and enjoys the novel. Don't miss this one.

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.

This is the best of the trilogy (now a series) maybe Sage is next? I thought the 3 young children were great! This certainly thawed out a very stiff Teagen. Little Rose was so funny I was laughing out loud. Thought the book was very entertaining. It's a keeper.

i enjoyed this book. it is part of a series that i have been trying ot get them all. you can read this book and enjoy it withought reading the other in teh series.

Just recently started reading this authors books and I really enjoy them very much. Especially the Whispering Mountain series. I hope to find more books by this author.

I like Jodi Thomas so it is hard not to like any of her books. The Whispering Mountain series is my favorite. In this book, the oldest of the brothers, Teagan finally shows he is not the Lion everyone thinks he is. I love the way that Thomas incorporates his tenderness towards three little girls that are not his, but might as well be. I thought that part made the romance between he and their mother all the more sweet. I liked it so much I have read it twice.