The Texas Ranger [Mass Market Paperback]

Diana Palmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004 | Series: Hqn Books

When Texas Ranger Marc Brannon returns to the line of duty, a high-profile murder mystery pits him against the vibrant—and vulnerable—junior investigator from his past. Years ago, Josette Langley made no secret of the fact that she was desperately in love with the rugged lawman, and despite their differences, the rough-hewn loner became drawn to the innocent young woman. Yet Marc and Josette parted on explosive terms when she made a shocking accusation that shattered both their lives. Now they are back together again.... And this time a lot more is at stake than just their hearts. For the woman Marc cherished is being targeted by a corrupt political figure who will stop at nothing to bury the truth. Can Marc and Josette set aside their stormy discord and see justice served? Or will they both be caught in the cross fire...? “Diana Palmer provides her myriad of romance fans with a stirring story.”—Midwest Book Review

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A bizarre misunderstanding between the hero and heroine fuels the tension in this otherwise unremarkable romantic suspense novel. Texas Ranger Marc Brannon and Josette Langley, a junior investigator for the DA's office, share a checkered history. As a teenager, Josette was assaulted by a local politician's son and then made out to be a liar in court; Marc even helped testify against her. Years later, Marc and Josette began an affair that ended abruptly when Marc discovered that Josette's hymen was too thick for penetration. At the time, Marc branded Josette a tease because she was willing to sleep with him but unable to complete the act, and he walked out on her, claiming that she was never "woman enough" for him. Now Marc and Josette are paired to investigate a murder that may be connected to the Mob. While the mystery plot unfolds predictably, the two try to sort out their past grievances. Palmer's fans are drawn to her macho cowboy heroes, but Marc's off-putting jokes about Josette needing "minor surgery" and his demands that she get therapy so that she'll stop being "sexless" are aggravating. Despite the steamy sex scenes that warm up the pages once the two eventually do connect, this is a passable romance that may please Palmer's current fans but won't convert new ones.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

The prolific author of more than 100 books, Diana Palmer got her start as a newspaper reporter. A multi-New York Times bestselling author and one of the top ten romance writers in America, she has a gift for telling the most sensual tales with charm and humor. Diana lives with her family in Cornelia, Georgia. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373770235
• ISBN-13: 978-0373770236
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #381,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so good for Palmer, August 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Texas Ranger (Mass Market Paperback)

As an avid Diana Palmer fan, I rushed to get this book, and sat down with it as soon as it arrived, only to be a bit disappointed. This is not the easy read as her other titles are. The story seems to drag, and the characters Marc and Josette have so much potential in the beginning, only to fade by the middle of the book. This just didn't capture my attention, and can I please ask Palmer to stop the virgin, who can't physically have sex without an operation, theme because it is getting a little redundant.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointment, March 3, 2003

By 

amy (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Texas Ranger (Mass Market Paperback)

I, like I tend to do, picked up my first diana palmer book on a whim and fell in love. Her provactive style that focused not so much on sex but instead on the intimacies and sexual tension of two people was refreshing. If I had to wade through one more erotica novel in the guise of romance I was going to jump off the roof. Now, that said, I have to say this book fell far short of my expectations.

The story of Jossette Langley who had her life torn apart TWICE by the same man is forced to work with him on a murder case. Marc Brannon was a cop who got the boy off who tried to rape Jossette when she was 15 and then had her life torn apart in another trial. But it's a romance so they still fall in love! I just sat there wondering why she was even giving him the time of day after all the havoc he had caused in her life.

Even after reading the reviews for this book i decided to give it a try because I live in West Texas and liked her book "diamond spur" because it was set in Texas. It's hard to relate to places you've never been or get into a "wintry New England" scene when it's winter here but in the 70's. But even the location couldn't string this book along.

My major complaint is that this is book is a sequel to atleast one other book, "lord of the desert" and possibly several other books from her Jacobsville series. I have no problem with books that are series but there is NO mention whatsoever of this being a sequel. I had to do some digging to find out about the prequels to this book.

That in itself is forgivable but the entire first half of the book is references to these earlier works. I was lost and in the end had to simply try to muddle my way through these rememberence scenes of people and places that are mentioned as if you, the reader, already have intimate knowledge of them.

The book was also entirely to predictable. The author drops so many clues that I knew who the murdered was by the second chapter and felt like Marc and Jossette had to be simpletons not to figure it out. I could have let this pass if the love story had been up to par to take the slake but it wasn't. There are a few scenes but they too are littered with references to other characters from earlier books and one scene is simply there to set up a forthcoming book. It made me feel like I was watching a commercial for the new Diana Palmer book.

Overall I finished this book but more than once I found myself saying "yeah right!" From Josette needing an operation to be intimate (something I found odd. It seemed like an annoyingly obviously way to keep the heroine a virgin.) to Josette letting Marc back into her life after he had wrecked it over and over to the pitiful murder "mystery" which was really no mystery, this was a disappointment.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Texas Ranger, August 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Texas Ranger (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read most of Diana Palmer's books. I must admit I liked her earlier books better, although Lord Of The Desert was pretty entertaining. But The Texas Rangers isn't worth reading. The book starts slow and gets slower. By the time the heroine and hero meet, the author had lost me. She went into too much explanation at the beginning and then kept repeating herself, turning a book that held promise into something that was slow repetitive and boring.