Trouble in Texas
Katie Lane

Genre:
Contemporary
Heat Level: Hot
Rating:

THERE'S A FOX IN THE HENHOUSE

Inheriting the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas can spell trouble for a girl's reputation . . . especially when she's Elizabeth Murphy, Bramble's prim and proper librarian. Yet when she discovers a buck-naked cowboy handcuffed to a four-poster bed, she forgets all about the town gossips. Elizabeth has sworn off men, but the stranger's kisses melt her resolve faster than ice cream on a hot summer day.

Waking up in Miss Hattie's Henhouse isn't how Brant Cates reckoned on getting to the bottom of his great-granddaddy's murder. The plan was to solve the centuries-old crime, then get the heck out of Dodge. But after meeting Elizabeth and discovering that the buttoned-up beauty is a sexy siren in disguise, he just can't pull himself away.

Now Brant needs Elizabeth to finally put his past to rest, but is she willing to risk her future on Bramble's newest bad boy?

Review

Elizabeth Murphy likes living a simple life and being Bramble’s town librarian makes living simple easy. She likes her job of being surrounded by books, and not the nosy bodies of Bramble. Her reputation as a good girl keeps her safe from men but when she inherits Hattie’s Henhouse, all of that can go quickly if the people find out that she is the great-great granddaughter of Miss Hattie.

Brant Cates is on his way to his brother’s wedding in Bramble, Texas. He just has to make one stop…Hattie’s House of Hens. It’s the last place that his great-great grandfather was believed to be alive before he died. Brant wants the truth and he is not leaving until he finds it. He just didn’t expect to come face to face with three old ornery ladies.

When Brant arrives at Miss Hattie’s, he is greeted by crazy old Minnie who accidentally shoots him in the arm. Once he mentions calling the sheriff, Minnie and the rest of the hens (what the women Henhouse residents call themselves) drug him and tie him to a bed. Talk about outrageous beginnings! The hens are absolutely hilarious.

Elizabeth is trying to stay away from Miss Hattie’s but Minnie calls with an emergency. When she discovers a naked Brant tied to Miss Hattie’s bed-he almost succeeds in seducing her. After escaping the Henhouse, Elizabeth realizes that now more than ever she has to sell the house and get rid of the old women, the hens.

When Elizabeth and Brant come together in the day, Brant sees the sexy temptress behind the boring librarian persona. He remembers the sweet kisses and heat that she gave the night before. The last thing Brant needs is a stuffy librarian getting in his way but he finds himself drawn to her as he spends time at the Henhouse.

The story becomes more crazy and zany with each page. I love how the author begins each chapter with a rule from the Henhouse and it applies perfectly to the text. Brant and Elizabeth fight each other in every scene but I can understand their reluctance. Brant’s wife and child died and his brother (Beau) is fighting cancer. Every person he loves has experienced some trauma or death and he is afraid to get close to anyone. Elizabeth has been taught by her mother that men are no good. After all, her mother grew up in the Henhouse.

There is so much more to this story but I don’t want to give it all away. The author does an excellent job at building the suspense and keeping the tension high. Readers will learn who killed Brant’s great-great grandfather and more tidbits about the hens.

Ms. Lane delivers a laugh out loud funny western story. I haven’t read any other books in this series, but they’re now on my must-buy list. For those who enjoy over-the-top sexy cowboys with a splash of humor, this is the perfect book. I can’t wait for Beau’s story. He deserves happiness after all.

Reviewed by Samantha